City leaders celebrate groundbreaking of Front Row development

Published on April 17, 2024

City leaders and private developers celebrated the groundbreaking of Front Row, a mixed-use development along Clinton Avenue that will bring new residential, office space and retail offerings into the downtown district.

Mayor Tommy Battle joined developers in a ceremonial shovel dig at the development site where the Coca-Cola bottling plant once stood. Representatives from Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P., Silverstein Properties, Essex Capital and Ascend Property Group joined the Mayor in heralding the start of construction.

Developers also presented a $250,000 check to the Huntsville Housing Authority as part of the festivities that included a reception across Clinton Avenue at Mars Music Hall.

“This is an extraordinary project that will make downtown Huntsville even more attractive to both residents and visitors,” said Shane Davis, the City’s Director of Urban and Economic Development. “We are grateful for the work by the developers to help bring this project to the start of construction. Front Row’s start of construction on this significant mixed-use project illustrates the continued strength of Huntsville’s economy and market given current national trends related to securing equity and financing for large-scale urban projects.”

The development site spans more than 11 acres and will feature 545 residential units, 36,000 square feet of Class-A office space and 47,000 square feet of retail space. A public urban green space that includes public art will be located between two six-story buildings that will make up the development’s first phase. Retail space is expected to be available in late 2025 with apartments following in early 2026.

The development also has a second phase that’s expected to include a boutique hotel, a Class-A office high-rise, luxury condos and more.