New $325M mixed-use development approved by Huntsville City Council

A New York-based developer has big plans for an undeveloped, 13-acre plot of land in the heart of downtown Huntsville.

On June 10th, the Huntsville City Council unanimously approved plans to develop a massive, $325M mixed-use development in downtown Huntsville. New York developer Rocket Development Partners LLC will be taking the lead on the project, which the City of Huntsville will contribute $18M towards the development. Keep reading for all the details.

The Largest Undeveloped Plot of Land in Downtown Huntsville

For 9 years, the 13-acre tract of land next to The Von Braun Center has been vacant—the largest undeveloped area in downtown Huntsville. The site was once the home of Big Springs Bottling, a Huntsville producer of soft drinks like Coca-Cola since 1902. However, the Big Springs Bottling plant closed in 2012, and was demolished two years later. Since then, the site has remained empty.

Now, the City of Huntsville is teaming up with New York Rocket Development Partners LLC to give the property new life.

A New, $325M Mixed-Use Development

Huntsville, Mixed-Use — Clinton Commons will take up the entire 13-acre plot of land next to The Von Braun Center in Huntsville. Photo via City of Huntsville

“This is a great opportunity to turn vacant property into new and unique places for people to eat, shop, stay the night and live. It’s an exciting project that will attract citizens and visitors alike, which will benefit Huntsville for years to come.”
Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle

The project—the “Clinton Commons”— is set to be a $325M mixed-use development, bringing new retail, office, hospitality and multi-family options to the city in multiple phases of construction. The first phase is planned to include:

26,000 square-feet of retail space
40,000 square-feet of office space
A 100-room hotel
Multi-family housing options
An 800-space, multilevel parking deck
Several public spaces, including a surface parking lot

“Our team is energized by Huntsville’s growth, and we are excited to support Mayor Tommy Battle’s master plan with a transformative downtown project that will meet the city’s rising needs and serve as an engine to the future of city building on a national scale. Mayor Battle is committed to smart growth and we’re grateful to him, his team and community partners for creating a city where people and businesses of all backgrounds can thrive.
Located within an Opportunity Zone, we believe this project will help create a vibrant live, work, play atmosphere downtown and expand the local economy for decades to come. Our team looks forward to playing a role in Huntsville’s next phase of growth with this mixed-use development.“
A statement from Mitchell Rutter and Dan Shields, Rocket Development Partners

Rocket Development Partners LLC is aiming to complete site work soon, gearing up to start construction in the Fall of 2022. The hotel, office spaces, parking deck and more are expected to be complete by 2025.

As part of the public-private partnership between the City of Huntsville and Rocket Development Partners LLC, the City is responsible for improving the surrounding streets and building a new road to connect Clinton and Holmes avenues.

Click here to learn more about the project.