Major north Huntsville development to include 800 one-story apartments, retail

Apartment construction may be slowing down in the fast-growing Huntsville metro area, but it isn’t stopping.

Construction is expected to begin this summer on a major development in north Huntsville – at Highway 53 and Blake Bottom Road – that includes a mixture of residential housing and retail businesses, Crunkleton Commercial Real Estate announced this week.

IMS Communities has secured construction financing for North Valley, including Beacon Place, the first residential phase within the larger North Valley master-planned development. Construction is expected to begin this month, introducing a new housing product that blends quality, convenience, and forward-thinking design, according to a news release.

Crunkleton Commercial Real Estate’s Vice President Eric St. John assisted the firm in acquiring about 130 acres of land from the UAH Foundation in 2023.

“We’re proud to have supported IMS Communities in establishing their footprint in Huntsville,” said St. John, a broker at Crunkleton. “North Valley reflects the type of thoughtful, well-planned growth our team is committed to facilitating throughout the region.”

Beacon Place North Valley will feature more than 800 one-story apartment homes with private garages and EV charging stations at every unit—a design IMS has implemented across 10 successful communities throughout the Southeast. This marks their 11th development, expanding a portfolio that already includes over 2,500 units and $500 million in investment.

Retail development

In addition to residential construction, the North Valley development will include commercial out-parcels at the intersection of Highway 53 and Blake Bottom Road—a highly trafficked corridor with strong long-term growth potential, Crunkleton said. IMS is seeking partnerships with big-box retailers, as well as regional and national brands, to create a complementary retail environment.

Crunkleton is leading the leasing efforts for the retail component and welcomes inquiries from prospective tenants.

City Urban and Economic Development Director Shane Davis hinted at announcements of major developments in the northern part of the city at a recent Huntsville City Council meeting with the construction of the Northern Bypass expecting to spur growth in the area.

Apartment construction has proliferated in the fast-growing Huntsville area in recent years.

More than 6,500 units were completed in the metro area (not including Athens) last year, according to a Berkadia-Crunkleton report. That figure matches the total number of apartments delivered in the metro over the 12 years leading up to 2020.