Birmingham’s Exciting New Plans for Affordable Housing!

Birmingham’s Exciting New Plans for Affordable Housing!

Hey there, friends! Have you heard the latest buzz from Birmingham? Our city leaders are teaming up with developers to breathe new life into our neighborhoods and make affordable housing more accessible to everyone. Yes, you heard it right! A recent conference brought together city officials, developers, architects, and housing folks to showcase some prime properties just waiting to be redeveloped. Let’s dive into what’s happening!

Spotlight on Development Sites

During the event, Birmingham presented six fantastic sites for potential redevelopment, and the Housing Authority of Birmingham (HABD) joined in with three of their own. One standout location is the site of the recently demolished Banks High School. This sprawling 23-acre property near the Roebuck and East Lake areas is catching everyone’s eye. Why? Well, it’s perfect for building both single-family homes and rental properties. Plus, there’s a great opportunity to create workforce housing here.

Cory Stallworth, the senior deputy director of community development, noted the site’s potential for mixed-income and varied housing types. Imagine walking to a neighborhood café or a convenient store instead of driving ten minutes to the nearest grocery store! That’s a win-win for the community!

More Sites to Explore

But that’s not all! Birmingham also explored several other exciting sites, including:

• Surplus Property Near Princeton Baptist Medical Center: A large tract of flat land around Cotton Avenue could be transformed into multifamily and commercial buildings. This spot could even provide homes for hospital employees and seniors who need quick access to health care.
• Historic Elyton School Property: Here’s a gem located near Elyton Village public housing. With ideas floating around about creating supportive buildings for families with child care needs, a food pantry, or even a restaurant, the community could benefit greatly!
• North Birmingham School: Built way back in 1923, this property is just a hop away from downtown Birmingham’s attractions. Plans are in the works to turn the school into a two-story studio apartment building – how cool is that?
• MacArthur School: With the new amphitheater set to open in July 2025 nearby, this site is seen as easy to work with and could lead to exciting developments.
• Kirby School: Located in the Norwood neighborhood, Birmingham is keen to chat about potential ideas for revitalizing this area.
• Tom Brown Village: This public housing site in North Avondale covers nearly 24 acres and could see improvements soon.
• Tuxedo Vacant Land Lots: Once slated for redevelopment, this land is now up for new ideas and plans.
• HABD’s Central Office Property: Available for mixed-use development, this could combine residential space with shops and offices to invigorate the area.

Engaging the Community

Developers have 30 days to show what they can bring to the table in terms of financial capacity and previous project experience. This process is crucial because these projects aim not only to improve the neighborhood but to ensure that longtime residents aren’t pushed out. Kelvin Datcher, the deputy director of community development, highlighted this goal clearly: “We want to ensure that our legacy residents are not displaced by the growth that has to happen in our neighborhoods.”

Bringing Schools Back to Life

Meghan Venable-Thomas, the director of community development, emphasized that repurposing these old schools is at the heart of their plan for community revitalization. These schools are so conveniently located and are generally well-built, which makes them prime candidates for exciting new mixed-use developments. “You can have commercial components. You can have housing. You can have other types of opportunities,” she said.

All in all, Birmingham is buzzing with opportunities to revitalize our neighborhoods and provide more affordable housing options. The excitement is palpable, and we can’t wait to see just how these plans unfold! Stay tuned for more updates as our lovely city works to create a brighter future for its residents.