New development planned for old Trinity Medical Center site
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.
“They’ve looked across town to Carraway and imagined a similar fate,” said O’Quinn, referring to the long-vacant former Carraway Hospital in Norwood.
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 headquarters, 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 property is still zoned B6, health and institutional district, but Birmingham Metro LLC did a zoning study and will present plans to the Crestwood South Neighborhood Association, the developer’s spokesperson said.
The Arbor Terrace site is blessed with a good location and is close to numerous desirable neighborhoods.
It offers easy access to the I-459 and I-20 corridors, as well as Old Leeds Road. It is close to the Highway 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,” said development director Will Kadish in the news release.
The development will include more than 300,000 square feet of fully 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 facility will also offer new and expanded nature trails, a private indoor golf range, a large central courtyard with a greenspace 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 BBJ reports, citing Jefferson County public records. The developer also acquired 55 acres from the Baptist Health System for an undisclosed amount.
Walter Brown and Dan Lovell of Graham & Co. represented the sellers in the transactions.
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.
The company typically evaluates the needs of growing communities and creates innovative projects that build upon each location’s existing strengths, according to the companies’ release.
The company pursues opportunities that serve nearby residents while supporting local businesses and attracting additional operators.
The company’s local partners on Arbor Terrace are as follows: Schoel Engineering Co., Sirote & Permutt PC, Southpace Properties Inc., Williams Blackstock Architects, Stewart/Perry Builders, Bullock Environmental, Skipper Traffic Engineering, Summit Electric, Edmonds Electric, Baker Donelson and Markstein.