Development planned for old Trinity Medical Center site: Arbor Terrace set to be a 75-acre, multi-use project

When Trinity Medical Center — formerly Baptist Medical Center Montclair— left Montclair Road for U.S. 280 and became Grandview Medical Center in 2015, it left behind a million square feet of unused buildings.

People in Birmingham were concerned it would be tough to find new tenants.

The property’s future “weighed on residents’ minds” in Crestwood, Birmingham City Councilor Darrell O’Quinn told Iron City Ink in 2018.

But a major development for the former Trinity site seems to be on the way.

On March 30, Birmingham Metro LLC — a company headed by New York developers Lawrence Kadish and Will Kadish — announced plans for the creation of a new multi-use campus at the site of the old hospital.

To be called Arbor Terrace, the 75-acre development will include a corporate head-quarters, residences and medical facilities, as well as “community-oriented” retail establishments and eateries, according to a news release from the developers.

Construction on the site is expected to begin this fall, according to the release.

A spokesperson for the developers told Iron City Ink that Arbor Terrace is expected to be a $200 million project over a five-year period.

Arbor Terrace will extend along Montclair Road from Dan Hudson Drive South to 52nd Street South. While accessible from Montclair Road, the site also will include entrances and exits from both Dan Hudson Drive and 52nd Street. This is expected to ease the flow of traffic during peak hours.

The Arbor Terrace site is blessed with a good location and is close to numerous desirable neighborhoods. It offers easy access to the Interstate 459 and I-20 corridors, as well as Old Leeds Road. It is close to the U.S. 280 corridor and Mountain Brook, particularly Crestline Village.

In addition, the Birmingham neighborhoods of Eastwood, South Crestwood, and Forest Park are nearby, and it’s not far from Arbor Terrace to Birmingham’s City Center.

“We look forward to welcoming new tenants, businesses and guests who are looking for a serene and upscale community experience while remaining close to Birmingham’s vibrant downtown district,” development director Will Kadish said in the news release.

The development will include more than 300,000 square feet of renovated buildings with new infrastructure, including high-speed elevators, advanced life-safety systems, modern design features and about 1,700 covered parking spaces.

The campus will also feature an elevated 30-acre platform embedded in a partially wooded hillside. This will provide great views of the surrounding area, the developers say.

“The platform overlooks the top of Crestline Village’s trees and that is why we named the development Arbor Terrace,” Will Kadish told Iron City Ink.

The facility will also offer new and expanded nature trails, a private indoor golf range, a large central courtyard with a green space for relaxation, networking and outdoor exercise.

“It’s our mission to showcase the natural beauty, sophistication and inherent convenience that this one-of-a-kind area brings to the table,” Will Kadish said.

The development “will have something for everyone,” he said, citing executives, professionals, nature enthusiasts and “culture connoisseurs.”

Birmingham Metro LLC bought two parcels totaling 20 acres from Affinity Hospital LLC for $1.35 million, the Birmingham Business Journal reported, citing Jefferson County public records. The developer also acquired 55 acres from the Baptist Health System for an undisclosed amount.

This is not the first time that a large project has been announced for the old Trinity site.

Developer Ben Berman of Berman Enterprises in Maryland signed contracts on the land and buildings in January 2018 and announced plans for an upscale mixed-use community called Trinity Heights in May 2018.

Berman said that he wanted to bring in apartments, condominiums and a senior-living facility. He also planned to have a hotel, offices, retail, eateries and entertainment, such as an upscale bowling alley or movie theatre.

Berman said at the time that the site had a great location and “amazing” hilltop views. However, Berman — after spending several months exploring the feasibility of the project — dropped his plans for the development in fall 2018.

Like Berman, Birmingham Metro LLC plans to bring in local third-party developers to do portions of the development.

The property includes five building pads, ranging in size from four to 17 acres, that are available for sale or joint venture, the spokesperson said.

Birmingham Metro LLC previously developed Stadium Trace Village, a large, multi-use development in Hoover, as well as The Landing in Opelika.

Will Kadish provided an update at press time regarding work underway on the project:

• The architects, Willlams Blackstock, were working on plans with Schoell Engineering and Dix Hite, Landscape Architects, for the new nature trails, greenspaces and terraces.
• Stewart Perry Builders was working on renovations for the 860, 840 and 820 buildings.
• The developer had also contracted for the demolition of the former hospital and annex, Will Kadish said.

In addition, the project is continuing despite the uncertainty in the American economy created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Will Kadish described the virus as “an awful tragedy that was sprung on the world” and said “it seems to have tested everyone.”

“As a developer, it is our responsibility to provide a safe space where people can feel comfortable again,“ he said. “Our team of professionals view this as an opportunity to implement the most advanced health and life safety systems, including state-of-the-art filtering of new HVAC systems and providing more modern spacing for lobbies, security and in restrooms.”

The property is still zoned B6, health and institutional district, but Birmingham Metro LLC recently did a zoning study, according to the spokesperson.

The developers also planned to meet soon with the Crestwood South Neighborhood Association, Will Kadish said.

The company’s other local partners on Arbor Terrace include Southpace Properties Inc., Bullock Environmental, Skipper Traffic Engineering, Summit Electric and Edmonds Electric.