Huntsville City Council approves new city revitalization project

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — Huntsville City Council approved a new revitalization project that mimics another southern city: Atlanta. The North Beltline Project, after the Atlanta Beltline Project, aims to connect areas of the city to downtown and improve community members’ quality of life.

The project wants to add commercial businesses to communities and more local parks, promoting a community center. Further, the project claims to implement many different types of transportation methods to connect areas of the city to downtown.

The first phase of the project approved Thursday stretches from downtown to Alabama A&M, between Washington Street and Memorial Parkway.

Huntsville Director of Urban and Economic Development Shane Davis says this project goes beyond physical changes to the community; it improves quality of life.

“It’s just, a ton of different things,” Davis said. “It’s quality of life. It’s recreation. It’s public heart. It’s redevelopment of some property that I know North Huntsville people have asked for decades. I’ve been here over 20 years, we’ve tried to work on. I think this is the missing piece.”

Davis added that there will be public forums held throughout the project’s implementation, allowing community members’ voices to be heard.

The official start date is unknown.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com.