This suburban infill village in the western woodland edge of Huntsville, AL, is unique for the density, success, and location of its town center. Providence’s urban core, with a thriving restaurant and shopping scene, and four hotels, at over a quarter mile from the nearby highway arterial clearly lacks prime retail visibility. Yet it outperforms even the historic downtown of Huntsville 15 minutes away on any weekend night. The difference has been developers David and Todd Slyman’s unwavering commitment to making a special place to live, work and play.
It has also helped that the area is home to numerous aeronautics and biotech research facilities.
Despite the high-tech population, however, the founders wanted a timeless aesthetic for the buildings and streetscape. As Town Architect Steve Mouzon has noted with amusement, “Who knew that Huntsville’s rocket scientists would have a real appetite for traditional, romantic architecture?” This award-winning project has experienced several “firsts” for New Urbanist developments, including being named the 2015 National Community of the Year by the National Association of Home Builders.
Development Approach
Go local: most Main Street businesses are small and local.
Nature preserved: two attractive waterways form a natural greenway turned park.
Rental market acknowledged: 42 percent of the housing is planned as apartments.
Defining Design Details
Main Street controlled: engineers convinced local DOT to allow fewer lanes and on-street parking.
Civic as amenity: the elementary school designed as a major architectural feature.
Topography celebrated: rolling hills worked into street layout and dramatic bluff made a focal point.
Tradition revered: architecture of the village strongly reflects the local historic vernacular.
