Public meetings on Huntsville’s Mill Creek redevelopment project begin

HUNTSVILLE – Plans for the redevelopment of the former Butler Terrace and Johnson Towers area off Governors Drive and behind Lowe Mill Arts were unveiled last week at the regular meeting of the Huntsville City Council. The city is hosting three public meetings concerning those plans beginning tonight.

The project, Mill Creek, is spearheaded by the city’s Planning and Community Development departments and the Huntsville Housing Authority and involves new affordable housing.

The meetings schedule:

• Resident drop-in open house: Tonight, 6-7:30 p.m., HHA Services Building, 212 Seminole Drive 
• Johnson Towers resident meeting: Thursday, 4-5:30 p.m.: Johnson Towers resident space, 216 Seminole Drive 
• Neighborhood and resident meeting: Thursday, 6 p.m. – Boys & Girls Club, 125 Earl St.

According to a release at www.huntsvilleal.gov, stakeholders will have an opportunity to see in-progress ideas for Mill Creek. There will also be opportunities to provide input on development plans and hear short presentations.

Representatives from the city will attend each meeting, as will representatives from Urban Strategies Inc., a St. Louis-based nonprofit with a history of working with governments and housing authorities to redevelop public housing.

“When complete, it will provide affordable housing to a broad spectrum of residents, from professionals to seniors,” said Scott Erwin, community development manager. “The end result will be the transformation of the surrounding neighborhood and positive outcomes for families.”

The HHA and the city are preparing to submit a Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant this year that could provide up to $50 million in federal funding for the project. The money would be used for neighborhood infrastructure, housing, employment opportunities, health and education and private investment.

The Mill Creek transformation plan proposes 750 residential units – a mix of market rate, HHA, 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.

“We’re excited to replace aging structures with modern, energy-efficient units that meet the needs of a broad spectrum of residents,” said Tony McGinnis, HHA executive director and CEO. “This project will significantly improve residents’ outcomes as well as provide more quality-of-life amenities through private investment.”