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Birmingham City Council discusses funding for Legion Field improvements

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Photo by Jesse Chambers.

The Birmingham City Council had a lengthy discussion about the future of Legion Field stadium at its regular meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 5, but ultimately took no action on a proposed five-year, $30 million capital budget for the facility.

Councilor William Parker, the sponsor of the resolution and the chairman of the council’s park and recreation committee, withdrew the item before a vote could be held, citing the need for further discussion.

Improvements at Legion Field would include such items as a new scoreboard at the north end and improved restrooms, according to Parker.

The $30 million, to be spent between 2018 and 2023, would be part of a $100 million Legion Field Community Redevelopment Project, which would focus not just on the stadium but on revitalizing the Smithfield community, according to the text of the resolution.

Such efforts would include quality-of-life issues like housing, infrastructure, parks and greenspace.

The city would also seek out potential project partners in the private and public sectors, such as universities, foundations, agencies and other governmental entities, the resolution states.

Several members spoke out strongly in support of improvements to Legion Field.

“The old gray lady needs a shot in the arm,” Councilor Steven Hoyt said.

“We have a facility that can be transformed into something greater and better,” he said.

Hoyt also offered “kudos” to Parker for beginning to develop a plan for the stadium that includes neighborhood revitalization.

Councilor Lashunda Scales spoke in support of the project, including efforts to revitalize the neighborhoods around the stadium.

“Legion Field is not only historic, it is structurally sound,” she said.

“I want Birmingham to start renovating and keeping up our own facilities,” Scales said.

Parker and some other council members traveled to Atlanta last Friday to tour Turner Field, the former home of the Atlanta Braves baseball team, which was recently repurposed as the home for the football team at Georgia State.

The trip served as an inspiration for them regarding Legion Field.

“It is amazing what they have done to transform that facility,” said Hoyt, who pointed out that The University of Alabama and Auburn University both successfully renovated and expanded old stadiums.

Scales praised Georgia State’s involvement in the Turner Field project. “They are revitalizing a whole community,” she said.

Councilor John Hilliard said he enjoyed the tour of the stadium but was especially energized by meeting the leaders of the Atlanta communities affected by the project.

“They were given the opportunity to buy in,” he said. “I like that Georgia State bought into the community.”

Councillor Darrell O’Quinn said that “due diligence” was needed regarding the funding for Legion Field and the return on the investment.

However, he said the project is part of “an important conversation” regarding the need to leverage the city’s assets, including Legion Field, to drive reinvestment in the area west of Interstate 65.

O’Quinn also stressed that Smithfield is “sacred ground” in Birmingham and has great historic significance.

“We need to be very focused on preserving that history,” said O’Quinn, who also stressed the need to improve “quality of life” for the community.

Councilor Sheila Tyson said that the Smithfield neighborhood should be part of the discussion.

Parker assured her that the community will be engaged early on in the process.

The park and recreation committee meets on the first and third Wednesdays of each month at 9 a.m. at Legion Field.

More action at Crossplex

The council authorized the mayor to execute agreement with the NCAA for Birmingham Crossplex to host several large sports events the next few years.

The facility is to host the following events:

The city will spend no more than about $532,000 on those events, and the NCAA will reimburse the city, according to the text of the resolution.

Getting warm

Cold weather is expected later this week, so the city will open a warming station at the BJCC South Exhibition Hall beginning Thursday, Dec. 7, and continuing through Sunday, Dec. 10.

The facility will be open each night from 5 p.m.-7 a.m., according to Don Lupo, director of the Birmingham Mayor’s Office of Citizens Assistance.

The warming station is normally held at Boutwell Auditorium, but that facility was booked, Lupo said.

Local nonprofit Heart to Table -- an initiative begun in 2015 by several local restaurants -- will provide food for the guests at the warming station.

They normally feed about 200-300 people, Lupo said.

The Heart to Table program was conceived by Silvertron Cafe owner Marco Morosini, according to Lupo.

Volunteers are welcome to help feed guests at the warming station, he said.

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