MidCity's mini-makeover
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
MidCity, with an assist from Huntsville, is making improvements and adding tenants.
Why it matters: The plans continue MidCity's transformation of the area into a modern, walkable "18-hour district."
Zoom in: The focus is now on a major streetscape revamp for Plaza MidCity, the area along Old Monrovia Road that's home to Stars and Strikes and Haverty's Furniture, per an announcement Monday.
- Work aims to improve accessibility, traffic flow and pedestrian connectivity with a redesigned parking layout to "better accommodate increasing visitor demand while creating a safer, more intuitive experience for guests."
Context: A lot of that work is part of Huntsville's recently-approved, $3.6-million project to improve Old Monrovia Road and install sidewalks along Stax Street, Sanderson Street and Makers Way nearby.
- Work includes new concrete, landscaped medians, new storm sewer piping, new street lighting within the walkways, and sidewalks of both traditional concrete and exposed aggregate concrete.
- Benches, a bicycle station, water fountain, landscaping and brick-pattern street crossings are in the plan, too.
The latest: MidCity announced new tenants for the area Monday, including two fitness concepts: X4 Fitness and GF Fitness, as well as Maitland Conservatory, an academy offering training through college level for music, visuals and sound.
Zoom out: MidCity is in the midst of a major plan to establish the 12-acre, $300-million MidCity Arts +Innovation Subdistrict, including a new venue, two hotels, a tech campus and more.
- The 140-acre development sees nearly 6 million visits per year, and is aiming for a total of 1,850 residential units and 925 hotel rooms alongside office and outdoor space.
More from Axios: Dead mall to mixed-use driver