A mixed-use development named after its address – 127 Holmes – is being planned in one of downtown Huntsville’s premier locations.

The new development is within walking distance of the Madison County Courthouse, the Von Braun Civic Center, the Regions Building and a concentration of restaurants and retail businesses. Directly across is The Avenue, which consists of 197 loft apartments and 21,000 square feet of ground floor retail space.

Scheduled to open summer 2018, the total building area is 25,578 square feet and will consist of three restaurants on the ground floor, two floors of office space above one of the restaurants, and outdoor terraces and bars above the other two.

Two of the restaurants bring new food concepts to the area – Retaggio, an Italian restaurant and the other yet to be named. The third is a Moe’s BBQ franchise, the first of its type downtown.

“The design of the new building will be more in keeping with the urban context of the surrounding area,” explains Design Director Robert Mercer of Chapman Sisson Architects in Huntsville, the firm designing 127 Holmes. “The design approach was to create a place where people would want to spend time, either for entertainment or business purposes.”

Mercer notes that currently there are few food/entertainment establishments that provide outdoor seating. “This one fills that need with two bars that open to outdoor entertainment terraces on both the north and south sides of the building.”

City Scapes, a building that occupied the site, has been demolished. Mercer says it had no architectural significance, and was a low, one-story office building with a shingle roof that did not address the downtown street.

“So many positive changes are happening in downtown Huntsville, and this project was designed to contribute to the energy that is growing within the City core,” Mercer adds.

“The design focused on two main issues, creating a building that addressed the street and contributed to the urban fabric of the area, and also to have fun with the architecture and respect the historical look of the downtown area at the same time.”

Image 1- A new mixed-used development called 127 Holmes is set to open in summer 2018 in one of downtown Huntsville’s choicest locations. The new development will consist of three restaurants on the ground floor, two floors of office space above one of the restaurants, and outdoor terraces and bars above the other two.

Image 2- The design of 127 Holmes will be in keeping with the urban context its surrounding area, explains Design Director Robert Mercer of Chapman Sisson Architects in Huntsville, the firm designing the project. The design approach is to create a place where people would want to spend time, either for entertainment or business purposes.

*Article by Jessica Armstrong and Images Courtesy of Chapman Sisson Architects