Birmingham City Council approves construction bid for new Kingston Fire Station
The people of Kingston will finally have a new fire station after a vote by the Birmingham City Council at its regular meeting for Tuesday, June 27.
Members voted 8-0 to accept a low bid from Stone Building of Birmingham for $2,967,000.00 to build a new Fire Station No. 8.
The council approved $3 million in funding for the station in August 2016.
The old station in the area was closed in early 2016, leading to many complaints from the community about longer, potentially dangerous emergency-response times.
The council also took another step toward major improvements in the Titusville neighborhood.
Members voted 8-0 to approve the vacation of 148,083 square feet public right-of-way inside the Loveman Village housing projects so the owners, the Housing Authority Birmingham District, can begin redevelopment.
The area is bounded by First and Second Avenues Southwest and Bolin Street.
The redevelopment of the projects is part of the city’s comprehensive, or “framework,” plan for the area.
As part of its consent agenda, the council passed a resolution encouraging citizens to attend a public meeting concerning the creation of the new Jefferson County Cemetery Oversight Board at the Brownsville Heights Community Center on Tuesday, June 27, at 5:30 p.m. The creation of the board was made possible with the recent passage of a state law, HB 34.
The council also granted two liquor licenses to Empire Hospitality LLC, the company that will operate the new Elyton Hotel – formerly to be called the Empire Hotel – located at 1928 First Ave. North downtown.
The licenses will be used as two restaurants in the new facility, The Yard (to be located on the first floor) and Moon Shine.
The council also voted to pay the United Negro College Fund up to $37,500 for one year to host a series of events locally called the Empower Me Tour. The purpose is to advocate for the importance of minority education and college readiness in order to meet the needs of local and regional employers