A new project is coming to Huntsville’s Cummings Research Park (CRP) in the form of a mixed-use development, the first of its kind in the eastern section of the park.
The development, named Arcadia, will be constructed at the corner of Bradford Drive and Wynn Drive by Bobo Development Group and Retail Specialists.
According to a release, crews have demolished the former Catholic High School building that was previously housed on the site.
CRP advised that the development will house 12,000 square feet of office space, 7,000 square feet of retail space, along with 251 apartment units.
Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle indicated that the development was designed to equip the park with the assets needed to fulfill industry needs.
“This development is the result of a comprehensive, strategic planning initiative to ensure Huntsville’s CRP is able to meet the evolving needs and demands of the business and research market,” stated Battle. “We look forward to welcoming Arcadia to CRP.”
The development stems from the needs identified in CRP’s 2016 Master Plan and the City of Huntsville’s 2016 Urban Renewal Plan.
CRP executive director Erin Koshut asserted that the mixed-use development was planned for the park’s eastern section due to the need of further growth in that portion of the park.
“Arcadia has been conceived by developers with purposeful intent. CRP East needed to become a more viable and healthy part of the market, as we’ve already seen in developments in the western portion of CRP,” said Koshut. “Looking at occupancy rates from last year, CRP East was just over 88 percent occupied, whereas CRP West was nearly 98% occupied.”
The release noted that Arcadia’s announcement was a result of city governmental and industrial leadership’s efforts to revitalize CRP East over the past few years.
Arcadia is being developed across the street from the Alabama School for Cyber Technology and Engineering. Recent growth of CRP East over the past two years includes the Orion Amphitheater and Encore in the MidCity district and Northrop Grumman’s Wynn Drive investment.
Other developments include the Drury Inn on Wynn Drive and the University of Alabama in Huntsville’s purchase of Plaza Office Park on Sparkman Drive.
According to Bobo Development Group CEO James Bobo, the current economic climate made Arcadia’s announcement well timed.
“With the current and projected growth in the Huntsville market, the timing is perfect to introduce the newest project in the community,” stated Bobo.
Robert Jolly, CEO of Retail Specialists, expressed excitement over his firm’s role in the development and recruitment of the project’s retail component.
“We are excited to begin work on such a significant development in Huntsville,” declared Jolly. “Our team looks forward to bringing new restaurant and retail options for the growing area.”
Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL
