HUNTSVILLE, Alabama – The City of Huntsville has selected a preferred developer for the vacant downtown Holiday Inn property.

City Administrator John Hamilton said four private firms responded to Huntsville's request for proposals to redevelop the 6.28-acre tract with a mix of uses, including a new hotel, shopping and restaurants.

City officials are negotiating with their top choice in an effort to reach a development agreement, Hamilton told AL.com Thursday afternoon. The name of the company and details of its construction plans could be announced in the next two weeks, he said.

"We had four very good proposals and good teams," said Hamilton. "Top to bottom, we had great choices."

The city-owned property at the corner of Williams Avenue and Monroe Street is steps away from Big Spring International Park, Von Braun Center and Huntsville Museum of Art, making it one of the most coveted tracts downtown. The soon-to-be-built, $3 million "Downtown Gateway" road will provide a direct link between the Holiday Inn site and Twickenham Square.

Big Spring Partners closed the 270-room Holiday Inn last December, saying the aging building had become too costly to operate. It will be torn down as part of any redevelopment project.

The redevelopment site could grow to include city-owned land next to the Holiday Inn that houses the Jim Williams Aquatic Center and Scruggs Community Center. However, Hamilton said any new construction there would have to wait until the city builds a replacement pool in another location near downtown.

"We've drawn a line in the sand on that issue," he said.