HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — We've been tracking progress on plans for Huntsville's Mill Creek redevelopment project. The project includes the redevelopment of the Butler Terrace and Johnson Towers area. Wednesday night the city of Huntsville hosted a public session to get final input before they refine the plan.
The City of Huntsville and the Huntsville Housing Authority showed artist renderings, listened to community input and gave short presentations at the Boys & Girls Club, 125 Earl St. SW, Huntsville. This was the last scheduled public meeting before the submission of a Choice Neighborhoods Implementation grant that could provide up to $50 million in federal funding for the project.
Ronald, who recently got out of foster care and is living in this area, says, "it's already a great community. It just could use a little polish."
He added that he's advocating for stability in this redevelopment, "everything the past couple years has been like up and down, moving from place to place to place, rent being raised and stuff like that."
And he hopes to see more resources added to set young individuals up for success, "get better, stable employment and connect them to resources to go to job training or entrepreneurship to start their own businesses..."
“This transformational project will have far-reaching benefits for all corners of the City,” said Community Development Manager Scott Erwin.
Anjele, who is a mother of four, says safety and a sense of community is what she's pushing for, "just recently we heard like gunshots, which scared us...I just would like my children to have, you know, feel like they're a part of a community. Sometimes it feels lonely."
A residential survey was conducted showing the community wants a more family-oriented neighborhood, more accessibility as many residents are disabled, access to affordable quality fresh food, and a safer environment for children to play.
So, with this feedback, the city says they’ll finalize a plan to submit in February 2024 for the possible CNI grant.
If the grant is approved, the project will need to be finished within eight years.
According to the city, the Mill Creek transformation plan proposes up to 750 residential units – a mix of market rate, Housing Authority, workforce and senior housing. It also includes pedestrian-oriented shopping focused on the Governors Drive and Clinton Avenue corridors. Plans also call for updates to infrastructure, including utilities and a new street plan. Additions of green space, neighborhood parks and the restoration of the creek as a neighborhood amenity are also prescribed.
RELATED: With Mill Creek moving into phase two, could there be another option to address affordable housing?
Click here to see a presentation on the project and here to learn more about the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Choice Neighborhoods program.
