At this week's Huntsville city council meeting, members approved the annexation of just over 572 acres north of Bob Wade Lane, bisected by Mt. Lebanon Road. A news item from the city says the annexation aligns with the City’s growth corridor in north Huntsville. The annexation would also help support and foster new retail development opportunities along the Northern Bypass. A public hearing is scheduled for August 26 before the Planning Commission.
The Planning Department for the City of Huntsville will host multi-day public input sessions for its University Drive Transit Oriented Development Planning Study. The study is analyzing the integration of public transportation and development along University Drive with a focus on three areas: Northwoods, University of Alabama in Huntsville, and the MidCity District. WAFF TV reports the sessions will start August 18 and continue each night through August 21. The sessions will happen from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at City Hall. There will also be a pop-up event on August 18 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Cavalry Hill Community Center at 2900 Fairbanks NW.
The City of Huntsville unveiled preliminary plans this week to renovate Goldsmith-Schiffman Field, a historic stadium near Five Points that opened in 1934. The project includes new flag football fields, a playground, pavilion with restrooms, pickleball courts, walking trails, and improved lighting and accessibility. A news item from the city says parts of the deteriorating stone wall will be removed due to floodplain regulations, though portions will be preserved. Construction could begin in 2026, pending City Council approval. The work is expected to take about 15 months.
The Aldridge Creek Greenway has reopened. A news item from the city says The Huntsville-Madison County Railroad Authority and its contractors made swift progress the past two weeks to remove debris from the creek and repair the walking path following a train derailment.
AL.com has confirmed that the South Star Music Festival won’t be coming back to Huntsville this year. Adverse weather conditions including rain and mud led to cancelled performances and lowered attendance in its inaugural event. In a statement, the city says South Star will pause in 2025 while they make important improvements to the festival grounds and complete the $44.6 million Ice Sports Center expansion at John Hunt Park. These improvements will set the stage for an even bigger, better festival experience when South Star returns.
The Decatur City Council has approved a major expansion of the Cook Museum of Natural Science. It voted to invest $43 million toward the project. The plan will nearly double the museum’s size to about 120,000 square feet. Additions will include new STEM labs, event spaces, programming areas, and exhibition galleries. A key component will be a new parking deck, funded by the city, with space for up to 500 vehicles. Officials say it will also serve the nearby Princess Theatre and a planned 130-room downtown hotel. WAFF TV notes the expansion follows Governor Kay Ivey’s recent designation of the Cook Museum as the North Alabama STEM Center, reinforcing its role as a hub for science education and tourism in the region.
Fantasy Playhouse Children’s Theater & Academy has entered a new stage with its move to the historic Merrimack Mill district. The official ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly renovated space took place on August 13. Attendees included FPCTA leadership, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, Madison County Commission Chairman Mac McCutcheon, and others. Located at 3320 Triana Blvd. SW, the expanded space features a 278-seat accessible theatre, new classroom areas and upgraded backstage facilities, nearly doubling FPCTA’s usable area. A news release from Fantasy Playhouse reports the completed lower floor now houses dedicated classrooms, a loading dock, a shop and a new office wing.