Planning Underway for Huntsville’s Historic Depot

The City of Huntsville is getting ready for a revamp for one of Huntsville’s historical landmarks, the Historic Depot. The original structure will remain intact, but the city hopes to transform the interior for community purposes such as retail, restaurant, office, or other commercial ventures. Furthermore, the 7-acre property hosts a number of other spaces including a baggage platform, outbuildings, a roundhouse, a Victorian-style home, an outdoor pavilion, parking areas, and green space. City officials wish to keep the landmark’s legacy while providing the community another lively public space. The city’s Urban and Long-Range Planning team invite locals to share their ideas and feedback on what they would like to see in this Huntsville area and are open to pursuing public-private development opportunities. To make your voice heard, visit the Depot Master Plan Public Input Survey page.

In addition to the survey, The City of Huntsville welcomes the community to two upcoming Public Input Sessions to review survey findings and explore proposed uses for the historic Huntsville Depot and surrounding property. Join City planners at the Roundhouse, located at 398 Monroe Street NW, on Tuesday, July 15, from 5–7 p.m., and again on Wednesday, July 16, at 10 a.m. Additional opportunities for public input will be offered as the planning process continues. City officials are committed to considering a wide range of ideas before selecting a financially viable and sustainable plan that best serves the community.

Built in 1860, the Huntsville Depot stands as the oldest remaining railroad depot in Alabama and one of the oldest in the nation. Situated along the Norfolk Southern Railway line, it holds a place on both the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage and the National Register of Historic Places. Once the Eastern Division headquarters of the Memphis and Charleston Railroad, the Huntsville Depot has a rich and varied past, serving at times as a prison for Confederate soldiers and later as a museum. Spearheaded by Mayor Tommy Battle, this initiative presents a unique opportunity to reimagine the future of the historic depot and strengthen its role within the community. City leaders and preservation advocates emphasize the importance of keeping the site active and relevant through thoughtful, ongoing use that honors its legacy.