Artist renderings: Williams Blackstock Architects and Bobo Development Group

 

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (January 13, 2022) – A new and exciting mixed-use development is coming to 4810 Bradford Drive in Cummings Research Park (CRP) East, and it’s the first of its kind in this section of the park.

It’s called Arcadia, and it is being developed by Bobo Development Group and Retail Specialists at the corner of Bradford Drive and Wynn Drive. You’ll see construction crews officially break ground this spring. In fact, there’s been plenty of activity on site already, as crews just demolished the previous building last week that once housed Catholic High School.

The mixed-use development will house 12,000 square feet of office space, 7,000 square feet of retail space, and 251 apartment units.

“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,” said Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle. “We look forward to welcoming Arcadia to CRP.”

A development like this has been in the plans for some time for the eastern side of CRP, and both were identified in the 2016 CRP Master Plan as a future mixed-use node, as well as in the City’s 2016 Urban Renewal Plan.

“Arcadia has been conceived by developers with purposeful intent,” said Erin Koshut, Executive Director of Cummings Research Park. Koshut added, “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. Looking at occupancy rates from last year, CRP East was just over 88 percent occupied, whereas CRP West was nearly 98% occupied.”

There’s been great focus to revitalize CRP East in recent years through efforts by the City of Huntsville, the CRP Board and the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber, and the Arcadia announcement is the most recent investment. Others in CRP East announced in the last two years include Orion Amphitheater and Encore in the MidCity district, Northrop Grumman’s investment into 110 Wynn Drive, and the Alabama School for Cyber Technology and Engineering, which will be just across the street from Arcadia. There’s also the Drury Inn on Wynn Drive, and UAH’s purchase of Executive Plaza Office Park on Sparkman Drive, which the university plans to redevelop as a new social heart for campus.

“With the current and projected growth in the Huntsville market, the timing is perfect to introduce the newest project in the community,” said James Bobo, chief executive officer of Bobo Development Group.

Retail Specialists is developing and recruiting the retail component of Arcadia. “We are excited to begin work on such a significant development in Huntsville,” said Robert Jolly, chief executive officer of Retail Specialists. “Our team looks forward to bringing new restaurant and retail options for the growing area.”

Cummings Research Park is the second largest research park in the U.S. and the fourth largest in the world. With more than 300 companies across its 3,843 acres, CRP is well-positioned to connect research and development at every stage in Huntsville.

Contact:
Erin Koshut
Executive Director
Cummings Research Park
[email protected]

Claire Aiello
VP, Marketing & Communications
Huntsville/Madison County Chamber
[email protected]