Year of historic proportions for Huntsville’s Department of Urban & Economic Development

HUNTSVILLE — Historic is a good 2025 description for Huntsville’s Department of Urban & Economic Development.

One entry in the history books is the largest single industrial private investment in Alabama history, when Eli Lilly and Co. announced plans this month to build a $6 billion campus in west Huntsville.

The department – overseen by Director Shane Davis – encompasses a wide range of city departments who work to make everyday life better for residents. From Traffic Engineering to Water Pollution to Engineering, their top-notch work often slips into the background because their work is consistently top-notch.

The backbone of those city services provided to residents is economic developments. Sometimes that includes nurturing businesses that are already in place but occasionally, it means expanding that base. Here are some 2025 highlights:

• Eli Lilly: The global pharmaceutical leader will build a next-generation manufacturing facility at Greenbrier Parkway and Interstate 565 with construction expected to start early next year. It will create 450 high-paying jobs including engineers, scientists, operations personnel and lab technicians.
• North Village Town Center: A $240 million retail and restaurant development will be built at North Memorial Parkway and Alabama Highway 255 (Northern Bypass) with anchor tenants Target and Home Depot. It will be located just west of the Food City that opened in July. The development will include multiple national retailers, fitness and healthcare options, local and regional retail space as well as multiple national and regional restaurants encompassing over 600,000 square feet of new retail options.
• More than 700 new jobs: Two developments approved at the same meeting by the City Council in August will expand job opportunities. Performance Drone Works will open a facility in Thornton Research Park that will create 525 defense and technology jobs with an average annual salary of more than $105,000. Nearby, Parsons Corporation is expanding through a $5 million investment that will create 198 jobs at the solutions provider in the defense, intelligence and critical infrastructure markets.
• Glaukos: A global ophthalmic pharmaceutical and medical technology company, Glaukos broke ground in Cummings Research Park in September on an $82 million facility that will create 154 jobs.
• Mill Creek Choice Neighborhood: After years of planning, the redevelopment of the area surrounding Butler Terrace and Johnson Towers – commonly known as Mill Creek – began demolition and site work.  Early 2026 will yield construction of the first of several buildings for the $350 million project establishing mixed-income housing, essential services such as health care and childcare facilities, and retail amenities. The project will also incorporate extensive infrastructure enhancements, including new streets, vibrant public art installations, and the development of a new Mill Creek Park.

“Our success in completing major infrastructure investments in roads, recreation and public services, along with advancing housing affordability options continues attract economic development opportunities for our community,” Davis said. “A key part of our success is the continued partnerships among City departments to work together to ensure we continue to provide quality services and future opportunities for our citizens.

“Urban Development’s ability to deliver these projects to our community would not be possible without the work of these departments and their dedicated staff.”

Looking ahead to 2026, the city will begin work on the Pedestrian Access and Redevelopment Corridor (PARC) project. The PARC project creates a direct connection across two major U.S. highways for residents, workers and visitors to access vital job centers, community services and to safely travel without the need of a vehicle in addition to added benefits of flood mitigation and stream restoration measures.

The new year will also see more roadway investments throughout Huntsville such as the Northern Bypass Phase II (U.S. 231 to Winchester Road), Swancott Road, Winchester Road, Old Big Cove Road, Resolute Way, U.S. 72 East and the Eastern Bypass.

Paul Gattis is a communication specialist with the city of Huntsville.