Birmingham City Council takes next step toward new BJCC stadium
A new open-air stadium at the BJCC moved another step closer to reality after the Birmingham City Council, at its regular meeting for Tuesday, Aug. 28, approved the vacation of some city streets at the construction site.
Members voted 6-0 to vacate 180,149 square feet of 23rd Street North (parallel to and between 22nd Street North and 24th Street North and perpendicular to and between Richard Arrington Jr. Boulevard North and 12th Avenue North), 11th Avenue North (parallel to and between Richard Arrington Jr. Boulevard North and 12th Avenue North and perpendicular to and between 22nd Street North and 24th Street North) and all interior alleys in Blocks 619, 620, 634 and 635, according to the text of the resolution.
The BJCC will pay a vacation fee of about $262,000, according to Katrina Thomas of the city’s Department of Planning, Engineering and Permits.
City Council President Valerie Abbott asked whether the closure of 11th Avenue North during the stadium’s construction at the same time that ALDOT is completing its redo of I-20/59 in the same area would cause hassles for city drivers.
James Fowler, the city’s director of traffic engineering, admitted that there would be “some impacts” on traffic over the next 18 months.
“However, I don't think we should necessarily hold up the stadium project due to the freeway,” Fowler said, citing the economic benefits of the BJCC expansion.
Fowler said his department is seeking to “mitigate” the impact of the road closure.
He said he believes that the city has a “robust network of streets” and “can accommodate the traffic,” even if the situation is a “little uncomfortable.”
NEW HOUSING
The council voted 7-0 to approve a zoning change to allow for the construction of a multi-family residential project in a development located at at 259 Lakeshore Parkway.
The property is the former site of a movie theatre at the Wildwood shopping strip that closed in 2007 and was later demolished, according to Thomas.
The zoning will be changed from QC-2, Qualified General Commercial District, to QC-2, Qualified Commercial District, Thomas said.
The developer will build garden-style apartment buildings with about 280 units, according to Thomas.
The proposed zoning change is consistent with the city’s long-range plan, conforms to other zoning requirements, meets ADEM wastewater requirements and was approved 9-0 by the neighborhood association, Thomas said.
The request was filed by Brian Hatcher on behalf of the owners, Lakeshore Parkway Retail LP.
A spokesperson for the developers told the council that the target market for the new residences will be young professionals, including those who work at UAB.
“There is a need for lesser expensive apartments” than those found in the City Center, he said.
CARING FOR CEMETERIES
The Council approved an agreement between the city and Oak Hill Memorial Association to provide care and maintenance for three city-owned graveyards — Oak Hill Cemetery, Elyton Cemetery and East Lake Cemetery.
Oak Hill is to receive no more than $161,279 between July 1, 2018 and June 30, 2019, according to the text of the resolution.
Stuart Oates, executive director of Oak Hill Memorial Association, told members that his organization was formed in 1913 to take over maintenance of Oak Hill from the city.
In response to a query from Councilor Steven Hoyt, Oates said that it is probably not possible for anyone else to be buried at Elyton or East Lake, which date back to the 1820s.
“They are pretty much full,” he said.
However, Oak Hill still has some spaces, he said.
WALKING TRAIL
The Council voted to accept a lump sum bid in the amount of $342,100 from Bulls Construction Group LLC of Birmingham for Clairmont Avenue Walking Trail Phase II, located on the Clairmont Avenue median. The area of the project begins at 50th Place South and ends prior to 13th Avenue South.