HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — A local home developer wants to build the tallest building in Huntsville that would be connected to the newly approved "pedestrian sky-bridge."
A 22-story building is something that started as a dream for Aaron Mance a local Huntsville developer with Campbell & Mance Resources, may actually become a reality.
"This has been a vision one for a long time. Like I've always said, you put the vision down on paper. You take baby steps towards it each day, and eventually you reach your vision," Mance said.
Bringing buildings to life is nothing new for him as he has 40 developments in the area, like "Ivy Hills."
But something he's really passionate about is the environment.
He grew up on a farm and he says that that gives him a sense of peace and respect for the land he chooses to build on.
He hopes to connect the high-rise to the recently approved pedestrian skybridge and bring, "convenience, walkability, sustainability, environmental protection, things like that. And if we keep heading in that direction, more people are going to get involved with those kinds of things."
And with a combining interest in renewable energy, "we hope to get some solar panels and some batteries to help with the energy use. We want to do all energy efficient appliances and light bulbs in this building and make it as energy efficient as possible, reduce energy consumption, help with global warming, and do our part."
Right now they're still in the vision stage, by getting reports on what will work best in the market.
In a couple weeks once they know exactly what they want, $2.2 million dollars will be put towards the planning stage.
If all goes well, Mance predicts a six year planning and building process.
"I think the past 15 years of my life have led up to this and all the experiences that I had, good and bad, have let me be able to put this all together. It's not just me, it's all the guys around me," Mance said.