If Monroe Street had eyes, if the road that separates Big Spring Park from the Von Braun Center could describe what it has seen, you probably wouldn't believe it.

Just this year alone, the downtown Huntsville road has seen one new hotel open, construction begin on another, a third hotel announce plans for construction and a dramatic expansion ongoing at the VBC itself.

And if Monroe Street could speak, it might say something like, "You ain't seen nothing yet."

Because in downtown Huntsville, well, you haven't.

In one square mile in the Rocket City's downtown, there are no fewer than 12 major construction projects that are either ongoing or have been announced in 2019. It is, indeed, a dizzying development district with investments estimated to be soaring beyond $400 million.

They have come together in piecemeal fashion, perhaps diminishing the overall concept of a downtown transformation.

Add them up and count them down, however, and the growth and prosperity of a city hurtling toward becoming Alabama’s largest becomes apparent.

Already completed

The AC Hotel by Marriott in downtown Huntsville.

AC Hotel by Marriott: It’s the only project of the 12 projects that has been largely finished, opening the doors in March on 120-room, 6-floor facility that overlooks Big Spring Park at Williams Avenue and Monroe Street.

Some final work is still ongoing at the hotel, including an open-air terrace level catering designed for an after-hours cocktail. But developers said last week that the AC Hotel has “exceeding all expectations” in its first nine months of operation. It’s the anchor, and only tenant so far, of the still-developing CityCentre project on the site of the former Hilton/Holiday Inn hotel.

Under construction

Rendering of the under-construction Redstone Federal Credit Union in downtown Huntsville.

Redstone Federal Credit Union branch/office building: Located on the newly-opened Joseph Lowery Boulevard, the five-floor building – which will including RFCU executives’ offices as well as a downtown bank branch in addition to leased office space – with an accompanying parking garage is projecting a late 2020 opening.

Designed with a glass exterior intended for a more modern, sleeker look, the building will bump up next to planned growth at CityCentre.

An artist's rendering of Von Braun Center's new venue, Mars Music Hall, and restaurant/rooftop bar, Rhythm on Monroe. (Courtesy VBC)

Von Braun Center expansion: Work is nearing an end on the $12 million project -- which includes the new Mars Music Hall that will open Jan. 3 with a sold-out show by Jason Isbell – that’s most visible at Monroe Street and Clinton Avenue.

The project also includes a restaurant and a rooftop bar called Rhythm on Monroe. The restaurant/bar won’t open as soon as Mars Music Hall but the VBC is targeting a February opening at the latest.

A rendering of a Hampton Inn & Suites planned for downtown Huntsville.

Hampton Inn & Suites: Directly across Monroe Street from the new music hall, work is just getting underway on a 150-room, seven-floor hotel that’s scheduled for an early 2021 opening.

It will include the usual Hampton Inn amenities, such as free hot breakfast, complementary WiFi and business and fitness centers.

A dilapidated but nearly 100 year old building was demolished in downtown Huntsville, Ala, on Monday, Feb. 4, 2019 to make way for a new Curio by Hilton hotel.

Curio by Hilton: If a hotel theme is emerging in downtown Huntsville's growth, that's by design. The city is seeking to create an inventory of about 1,300 downtown rooms that can be part of bids for larger conferences and events at the VBC. Those organizers typically want at least 1,000 rooms that can be reserved for an event.

The $30 million Curio, located on Jefferson Street just off the downtown courthouse square, is about three blocks from the VBC. The full-service boutique hotel will have 117 rooms, restaurant and a seventh-floor rooftop bar with an opening targeted for the third quarter of 2020.

This building on Huntsville, Ala.'s northside courthouse square is getting a facelift and new life and mixed commercial and office space.

125 North Side Square: The building on the eastern corner of the square’s north side – located at Washington Street and Randolph Street – is getting a makeover.

While its ground-floor tenant, the Jimmy John's sandwich shop, is not affected, the rest of the building will be changed from a new exterior and have space for ground-floor retailers and office space on the second and third floors. The project is nearing completion.

A rendering of the Constellation development in downtown Huntsville looking south from Memorial Parkway and Clinton Avenue. The high-end apartment complex is located in the center with two office buildings and a parking deck on the right adjacent to the parkway. The restaurant/retail district bordering Clinton Avenue is located on the bottom left of the rendering. The Spring Hill Suites that's already in place and not part of the development is in the top center.

Constellation: The 25 empty acres at Clinton Avenue and Memorial Parkway, after years of planning, won’t be empty much longer. The area around the Spring Hill Suites will fill with an upscale apartment complex, restaurants, retail and office buildings.

It's an overall investment approaching $100 million and will dramatically change the view entering downtown on Clinton Avenue. Site prep work is well underway and occupancy of the apartments is expected in 2021.

On the drawing board

A rendering of the Autograph Collection by Marriott hotel to be built on Monroe Street in downtown Huntsville at the site of the parking garage.

Autograph Collection by Marriott: The 6-floor hotel will tower over Big Spring Park from the southwest corner of the Monroe Street parking garage across from the VBC. That garage will be reconfigured to accommodate the Autograph and will provide parking for the hotel as well as the Hampton Inn & Suites on the north side of the garage.

The $40 million Autograph will be the third downtown hotel to fly the Marriott flag and feature 187 rooms, two full-service restaurants as well as a rooftop bar. It will also include conference/banquet space to complement the VBC. It's expected to be opened by the end of 2021.

The Eclipse, unveiled Dec. 3, 2019 as upscale apartment complex at CityCentre development in downtown Huntsville.

The Eclipse: The most recent announcement made just last week, it will be the second building to rise at the CityCentre development.

It will be another upscale apartment complex with 278 units ranging from studio to 2-bedrooms. The complex will also have 18,000 square feet of ground floor restaurant/retail space with occupancy set for late 2021.

A rendering of the Hyatt House hotel coming to downtown Huntsville.

Hyatt House: This hotel is set for Jefferson Street and Holmes Avenue in the surface parking lot across Holmes from the federal courthouse.

It will be one of the city’s tallest buildings at 9 floors with a private investment of about $38 million. The hotel will include 145 rooms and a rooftop bar – giving downtown at least three hotel rooftop bars. The facility is expected to be completed by the end of 2021.

A rendering by Huntsville architects Matheny Goldman of a $14 million parking deck at Holmes Avenue and Greene Street in downtown Huntsville approved Nov. 21, 2019, by the city council.

Greene Street parking garage: Located at Greene Street and Holmes Avenue, it’s perhaps not as exciting as a new hotel or an expanded VBC. But its 485 parking spaces are needed as downtown growth continues. It will also provide some parking for the nearby Hyatt House.

Much like the retrofits at the Clinton Street garage, the Greene Street garage will have about 6,900 square feet of retail space available for lease. The city council has approved $14 million for the project.

On the horizon

A rendering of a possible design for Huntsville's new city hall released by the city in March 2018.

New city hall: It’s happening soon, perhaps with a groundbreaking some time next year. But specific details about a new city hall have not yet been publicly shared.

The city conducted a study that identified the best site for the municipal building as the Fountain Circle parking garage across the street from the city administration building. City hall employees are spread throughout the city because there isn’t enough space in one building to house them all. That’s one of the objectives of the new city hall, which has a tentative price tag at this point of $60 million.