City to provide incentives for Marino's Market renovation

Long-time Birmingham grocer Anthony Marino has been granted incentives of up to $1 million from the city to renovate his store in the Central Park neighborhood.

The Birmingham City Council, at its regular meeting for Tuesday, July 17, approved the incentives, to be paid to Marino’s Inc. over 10 years using sales tax revenue generated by the store.

The annual payments will be equal to the lesser of two amounts — either 65 percent of the sales tax revenue generated for the city, or $150,000, according to the text of the resolution.

The project is expected to create 15 new jobs at the store, called Marino’s Market and located at 1965 Bessemer Road.

Marino is investing about $4.2 million in the expansion, according to a Birmingham City Council web post. 

He plans to expand the building and enlarge the sales floor to allow room for more varieties of healthy foods, fruits and vegetables.

There is a second location of Marino's Market in Ensley at 2415 Ave. E.

OTHER BUSINESS

The Council voted to amend the capital fund budget for Fiscal Year 2019 and appropriate $158,000 for upgrades and renovations at Marconi Park downtown. The money will be transferred from land acquisitions and green space.

The Council voted to amend the capital fund budget for Fiscal Year 2019 and spend just over $207,000 for sidewalk improvements as part of the Clairmont Walking Trail. The money will be transferred from the 16th Street Bridge Grant Match.

Members voted to amend the city’s grants fund budget for Fiscal Year 2019 and appropriate just under $550,000 to the Department of Planning, Engineering and Permits for the Birmingham City Center Framework Plan, based on a grant received. The city is gradually creating framework, or master, plans for each of nine areas in Birmingham. Work on the Central City plan is beginning this year.

The Council also amended the Fiscal Year 2019 grants fund budget to appropriate $325,000 to Birmingham Municipal Court for substance abuse and mental health services, per a grant received.