Alabadrock

Oooooooooo, that all sounds sweet and juicy!!!!!!!

Just looking around on WAFF's website and saw the ALFA Camera Network. Clicked on the Decatur view and it's got a really nice view of the riverfront. You can see the condo project next to Rhodes Ferry Park and I'm sure you'll be able to see building's rising up in a few months at the interchange. http://www.waff.com/global/Category.asp?C=113774

^^^Hey, nice work. At least it gives me an idea of what everything'll look like. Or at least close to it. Thanx!

I, along with most of the city leaders and residents, was worried about what was going to happen to the sudden glut of office space in downtown Decatur after all the bank mergers occured. And I've been rather surprised. Not only has office space been taken up by other companies and businesses after AmSouth and UnionPlanters left, there actually seems to be a higher occupancy rate. I'm not sure what entity took up the space in the old AmSouth Tower, but it's obvious there are people in the building during the night, so when you drive down 6th Avenue, it's not just a sea of darkness. And the other Union planters building is now being occupied by Progress Bank, and newly formed bank with offices in Decatur and Huntsville, which I assume is based in Decatur. Anyways, here's a picture of the building that Progress Bank renovated to an extent.

OH WOW!! That lake is gonna be HUGE! I know this is asking a whole lot, but could someone make up a map from like Google Earth or something for the park. Like, and segment it into the stages, what's being built now and what's being built later. My map editing skills are very very.......terrible I guess would be the best word...

So, is the lake picture just a blown up picture from the 2 picture? Or is it on the same scale as the second picture just too big to fit into the second?

Decatur Daily reports that the Chile's Bar and Grill in Decatur, in front of Home Depot, will be open by mid August. The developer says that at 6,000 square feet, it will be larger than most of the other Huntsville area locations. An Academy Sports store is also planned for the lot adjacent to the Chile's location.

Article from the Tuscaloosa News today: CONSULTANT HIRED FOR AMPITHEATER The city of Tuscaloosa has hired a consultant to help it decide what type of ampitheater to build, how to build it, and how to operate it once it is built. Plans call for it to be built along the riverfront next to the Hugh Thomas Bridge in downtown. The consultant is from Red Mountain Entertainment, and was part of the development of the wharf in Orange Beach. I hadn't heard of this before but it sounds like a wonderful idea. An attraction in that part of downtown could do a lot. The area is very walkable, but I would like to see the riverwalk connect and close that void in the middle where those industries and the Army Corp of Engineers are located. ARTICLE:Consultant hired

Living in luxury on Burleson Mountain The Decatur Planning Commision gave a favorable recomendation about the proposed subdivision on Burleson Mountain in Decatur next to the Indian Hills Golf Course. The current phase will be 35.8 acres of the golf course in 94 lots of the subdivision. The subdivision will consist of attributes that make it very pedestrian friendly. Off street driveways, and garages, and broad porches will be part of all of the houses. Developers intend to recreate old Decatur in the suburbs. The full subdivision once completely built will be 400 lots on 166 total acres in the city limits. ARTICLE: Burleson development

Hartselle OKs subdivision plan near I-65 The planning commision unanimously approved a 51-lot first phase for the Hartselle Heights subdivision along Interstate 65 in Hartselle. The location is just off East Byrd Road near 65, on the eastern side of the interstate. That is about midway between the exits that invovle I-65/AL 36 and I-65/Thompson Rd. The developer agreed to annex his property after the city told him that they were extending sewer line under the interstate to the far eastern side of the city. The developer cited the school system as his primary reason for annexing the property into the city limits. One detail that the planning commision did not discuss was the impact that the subdivision would have on the overcrowding schools in the system. Citizens will vote on March 11 on whether or not to approve a 7.5 mill property tax increase to fund a new Hartselle High School. ARTICLE: Hartselle OKs subdivision

Ok, my thoughts on recruiting. I'm thinking that the rankings are going to go like this: 1) Florida 2) Alabama 3) Georgia 4) Notre Dame 5) Oklahoma 6) Ohio State 7) Florida State 8) Miami 9) LSU 10) USC

Ready to Turn Dirt Redevelopment in Downtown Decatur An article in the Decatur Daily reports on the meeting that was held at the Princess Theatre in front of a crowd of 125. Suggested improvements include turning what is currently a field of gravel and overgrown weeds and grasses into parkspace that is bordered by the railroad tracks, Railroad St, Finley Dr, and Wilson Street (AL 20/ALT 72). Other additions proposed are the building of art galleries and museums that expose the cities history in railroad transport and its tenure as North Alabama's regional hub. Museums would be built where there are currently abandoned buildings and parking lots. The old railroad depot would be transformed into a railroad museum. The city already plans to plant 30 crepe myrtles on the bend of Lee Street where it curves to the north to turn into Bank Street. If any of you have driven through downtown Decatur, you'll notice that this bend successfully divides the two parts of downtown. The city is looking to join them by improving the asthetics of the area that is now a delapitated part of town that has few places that are actual destinations. These proposals come after city officials that took a trip to Greenville to study the success of their downtown renewl. Greenville serves as a great model for Decatur because of the similarities the cities share in population and demographics. ARTICLE: Read to turn the Dirt

Well, the main reason that SEC schools don't travel out of their region too often to play tough teams is because their schedules are already hard enough just doing conference play. But, lately, it seems the SEC schools have been trying harder to travel and play tough teams. Examples: 07' Alabama vs FSU, 08' Alabama vs Clemson, Tennessee and Cal, I think that Bama and Penn State are trying to arrange a meeting in 09' or 10'.

Decatur Mall plans to expand The new management company, hired by the new owners of the mall, plan to expand and improve the Decatur Mall, that was formerly owned by Colonial Properties. Improvements, so far, include moving the Regal Cinemas Theater into the mall. It is currently located on an outparcel location on the perimeter that surrounds the main building. The addition of more outside entrances to the anchor stores is also expected. Also, the city plans to aid in the construction of a road that enters the mall on the southside of the perimeter in efforts to help traffic and improve entrances to the mall. In 2004, the city offered $4 Million dollars to Colonial to aid in a $19 Million improvement of the mall. Unfortunately, Colonial ceased plans to improve the 1970s era mall. Link: Mall plans expansion

A surprising robotics boom Growth of robotic-aided surgeries in Decatur faster than expected, doctor says The introduction of the da Vinci Surgical System to Decatur's Decatur General Hospital has produced more activity than expected. So far, the hospital has used the robot to aid in 60 surgeries and is expected to double that by the time the machine's first anniversary rolls around. The robot assisted surgeries have been so successful that Decatur General has performed 20 robot assisted surgeries faster than any other hospital in the Southeastern United States. Currently, there are more robot assisted surgeries in Decatur than anywhere else in North Alabama. A surprising robotics boom EDIT: Heading needed to be fixed

WV definitely had a quality win. However, I don't think Mizzou had quite a quality win. Arkansas just really isn't an eplosive team. McFadden is great, but he certainly didn't tip the game in Ark.'s favor too much.

It brightens my day, just seeing that nat. champ. banner.