Reviewed by: Lacey Muenstermann
Historic Huntsville Depot’s future: City leaders want public input
Reading time: 3 minutes
The City of Huntsville shared some ideas for the 1860s-era Huntsville Depot site during a conference Tuesday morning. The city looks to move forward on a master planning process for the historic site and its surrounding 7-acre property in downtown Huntsville after seeking public input.
Here’s what to know:
What’s in store for the Huntsville Depot site
The City is asking for public comment to help determine the best civic use for the depot property. Ideas have ranged from a public park and recreation complex to restaurant/retail options and other commercial uses.
City leaders want to explore all options before identifying a financially feasible and sustainable plan for this public amenity. Multi-use plans and public-private partnerships will be considered.
To voice your opinion, a survey is available online.
Also, the City of Huntsville will host two public input sessions to review survey results and discuss proposed uses for the property. These meetings are scheduled for Tuesday, July 15, at 5PM, and Wednesday, July 16 at 10AM at the Roundhouse, 398 Monroe Street NW.
Additional public input sessions will be held throughout the public planning process.
About the Depot
Completed in 1860, the Huntsville Depot is the oldest surviving railroad depot in Alabama and one of the oldest in the United States.
Located on the Norfolk Southern Railway line, the depot is listed on both the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage and the National Register of Historic Places.
The 7-acre depot property includes:
- The historic depot building, baggage platform, and associated outbuildings
- A 1980s reproduction roundhouse and turntable
- A Victorian-style house reproduction, open-air pavilion, and green spaces
- Parking areas and a greenway connecting to Gateway Park and downtown
While the 1860 depot’s historic integrity will be preserved, its interior offers potential for adaptive reuse, such as restaurant, retail, office or civic space. Other on-site structures like the roundhouse and shop building may also support expanded uses under a new vision.
The site’s greenway connection will remain an integral part of the redevelopment, linking the depot to nearby parks, memorials and the downtown core.
What do you think the Huntsville Depot property should be used for? Take our survey on LinkedIn!
