Construction is beginning on the $13.2 million Ditto Landing event center.

A building permit was issued to Madison County Engineer Chuck Faulkner on May 29. Madison County Engineer Phil Riddick told residents at a south Huntsville town hall that the project was expected to break ground this month.

It was the most expensive project issued a permit in Madison, Limestone and Morgan counties since May 19. Overall, 192 permits have been issued since May 19 totaling $63.8 million, according to Southern Exposure Information. Six of the permits were for projects exceeding $1 million.

Huntsville issued 89 permits totaling almost $30.3 million. Madison County issued 77 for $20.3 million. Madison issued 12 permits totaling $7 million and Decatur issued 14 permits totaling $6 million.

The Madison County Commission awarded the construction of the Ditto Landing contract to Lee Builders at its April 23 meeting. Lee Builders is the firm that renovated Joe Davis Stadium, converting it from a minor league baseball stadium to a multipurpose stadium that is home to Major League Soccer’s NEXT Pro team, the Huntsville City Football Club.

The project includes renovating the 20,000-square-foot State Docks warehouse into the event center on a 2.5-acre site that offers a view of the river and bridge, Riddick said.

The event center will have space for at least one restaurant. There will also be a building that can be used for seated dinners, weddings, corporate events and concerts.

The center will have the capacity for a 600-seated dinner or an 1,100-seated indoor concert, which Riddick said would offer more seating for dinner than the Jackson Center and more concert room than the Mars Music Hall at Von Braun Center.

The event center courtyard will also be big enough to host outdoor concerts with space for food trucks, the commissioner said.

The event center will also include a greenway. And Riddick said there are future plans for boat lifts so river traffic can stop in for events, park their boats and come in.

The city of Huntsville is partnering with the county on the project. Riddick said the city constructed a road to the site. Prior to the road construction, Riddick said there was no access to the site. The commissioner also said the city was going to construct an additional parking lot for the center.

Other projects

• Decatur issued a permit to Lucian D. and Doris N. McCulloch for a $4.8 million alteration at 212 Lee St. NE in Decatur, which is the location of their business, McCulloch Appliance Sales and Service. The project’s contractor is Building Construction Associates of Decatur.
• Madison issued a permit for a $4 million, 34,800-square foot building at 451 Lanier Road. Summit Structures of Huntsville is the contractor. SEA Wire and Cable, Inc., is listed at the address.
• Madison County issued a permit for a $3.5 million, 2,694-square foot addition to Flint River Baptist Church at 12945 U.S. 231-431 N. in Hazel Green. Stutts Corporation of Huntsville is the contractor.
• Huntsville issued a permit for a $2.9 million alteration for the mixed-use development at 885 Haysland Road in south Huntsville. The permit was issued to Freedom Real Estate & Capital. A building permit was issued in October 2023 to Freedom Real Estate for a Class A, 54,000-square foot office building at the address.
• Huntsville also issued a permit for a $2.6 million project at 310 Clinton Ave. NW. The permit was issued to Ascent Hospitality CEO John Tampa, whose company specializes in boutique hotels. Tampa Construction Enterprise is listed as the contractor.

Davidson Homes was the top homebuilder. It was issued 23 permits totaling $5.8 million. Lennar Homes of Alabama was issued 16 permits totaling $3.4 million and DR Horton was issued 21 for $1.3 million.