HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WAFF) – If you’ve driven down Clinton Avenue lately, you’ve probably noticed two large buildings under construction.
That’s phase one of the Front Row development project, and it’s designed to transform downtown Huntsville.
The project will include luxury apartments, retail shops, office space, and a public plaza, all designed to bring more people downtown.
Two residential buildings will house over 500 apartments, with ground-floor retail and office space creating a mixed-use destination.
“The goal is to create a place where people can live, work, dine, and socialize all in one location,” said Daniel Shields, co-manager of Front Row.
The two buildings will share 40,000 square feet of common spaces for residents to enjoy.
This includes two gyms, work spaces, multiple pool decks, rooftop lounges, and event spaces where residents can gather and socialize.
What makes this development different is the complete package it offers apartments, shops, office space, and a public plaza all in one place.
Residents will also get their own private Wi-Fi network that works everywhere in the building, from apartments to pool decks to parking garages.
“That is unique to Front Row,” Shields said. “It’s really unique around the country. There’s not a lot of buildings that offer that today.”
High-end regional restaurants and shops are already interested in the project, according to Shields.
Official announcements about which retailers and restaurants will open are expected soon.
“We have a definite vision for the type of retail that we want at Front Row,” Shields explained. “We want it to match the vibe and the culture and the community of the residences upstairs.”
The first building is expected to welcome residents as early as this summer.
The second building is expected to open in early 2027. As you can see from the site, significant progress has already been made on the project.
Shields said companies relocating to Huntsville sometimes struggle to attract talent because the city lacks a downtown lifestyle.
However, Front Row will help fix that.
“One of the challenges that a lot of large employers have in recruiting talent is that today’s millennial employee likes to live downtown, likes convenience, likes a walkable community,” Shields said. “That doesn’t exist today in Huntsville, certainly not in a major way, certainly not downtown.”
Front Row aims to solve that problem by creating an urban lifestyle that appeals to both longtime residents and people relocating to Huntsville.
The project was designed with both locals and newcomers in mind.
“We tried to accomplish at the outset was to design a building that would be attractive not just to people that are native to Huntsville, but to the deluge of people that are migrating to Huntsville,” said Shields. “It’s a little taste of home for everybody.”
The developers are currently finishing phase one of the project.
Phase two is still in the planning stages but is expected to bring more development to Front Row, with plans for a large office building designed for a major company.
“This project is going to be transformative to Huntsville,” Shields said.
You can take a look at the apartments here.