HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Construction is officially beginning on a long-anticipated $13.2 million event center at Ditto Landing, bringing new life to a scenic stretch of the Tennessee River and positioning the site as a future hub for entertainment and events in Madison County.

A building permit was issued May 29 to Madison County Engineer Chuck Faulkner, marking a key step in launching what is now the largest permitted construction project in Madison, Limestone, and Morgan counties since May 19.

Madison County Commissioner Phil Riddick informed residents during a South Huntsville town hall meeting that groundbreaking was expected to begin this month.

“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 Madison County Commission formally awarded the construction contract to Lee Builders during its April 23 meeting. The firm is known for its recent transformation of Joe Davis Stadium into a multipurpose venue that now serves as the home field for Huntsville City Football Club, a Major League Soccer NEXT Pro team.

The event center’s design reflects the area’s growing need for flexible, mid-sized event space. The facility will accommodate seated dinners for up to 600 guests or indoor concerts with seating for 1,100, according to Riddick.

“It would offer more seating for dinner than the Jackson Center and more concert room than the Mars Music Hall at Von Braun Center,” Riddick explained.

Plans also include a restaurant space, a courtyard for outdoor concerts, and space for food trucks, adding versatility to the venue's offerings. An on-site greenway is included in the design, promoting walkability and connection to the outdoors.

And in a unique nod to Huntsville’s riverfront location, Riddick revealed plans for future boat lifts, allowing boaters to dock and attend events directly from the Tennessee River.

“There are future plans for boat lifts so river traffic can stop in for events, park their boats and come in,” he said.

The project is a partnership between Madison County and the City of Huntsville. The city played a crucial role in enabling construction access by building a road to the previously unreachable site and is also planning an additional parking lot for the center.

“Prior to the road construction, there was no access to the site,” Riddick noted.

The Ditto Landing project topped a list of 192 construction permits issued in the tri-county region since May 19, totaling $63.8 million in new development activity. Of those, six permits were for projects exceeding $1 million.

Other major permits recently issued include:

• $4.8 million alteration at McCulloch Appliance Sales and Service in Decatur.
• $4 million for a 34,800-square-foot building for SEA Wire and Cable, Inc. in Madison.
• $3.5 million addition to Flint River Baptist Church in Hazel Green.
• $2.9 million alteration at 885 Haysland Road in south Huntsville by Freedom Real Estate & Capital.
• $2.6 million project at 310 Clinton Ave. NW for Ascent Hospitality, which specializes in boutique hotels.

Homebuilding remains robust in the region, with Davidson Homes leading the way — the company was issued 23 permits totaling $5.8 million. Lennar Homes of Alabama received 16 permits valued at $3.4 million, and D.R. Horton followed with 21 permits totaling $1.3 million.

As construction begins, the Ditto Landing event center is poised to become a signature development for the region’s riverfront and entertainment future.

Originally reported by Scott Turner in AL.Com.