Photo by Jesse Chambers
The community garden at UAB, located on 17th Street South between 11th and 12th avenues south, as of August 2018.
UAB is working to gradually transform a two-block area near the heart of Five Points South into a park or green space as part of the university’s master plan.
UAB announced plans for the park, located between 11th and 12th Avenues South and 16th and 18th Streets South, in May 2017.
The park will be open to the public and offer “amenities and opportunities” not readily available in the area, according to Brian Templeton, a project manager at UAB Planning Design and Construction.
But the project will likely take several years to complete, according to Templeton.
“We’re implementing it small pieces at a time as need and funding become available,” he said.
The location and programming will create “a link and catalyst between UAB, Five Points South and Glen Iris,” he said.
The site already includes a community garden, and work is underway on a demonstration area for UAB Sustainability.
Planners have received “great feedback” from people on campus and surrounding neighborhoods, according to Templeton.
Suggestions for the space from campus groups have included practice fields, beach volleyball courts and areas for team-building exercises.
The UAB community will have priority for some programmed spaces, such as an outdoor classroom or multi-purpose field, but these elements will be available for public use when not reserved for UAB, Templeton told Iron City Ink.
The school’s Undergraduate Admissions Office, a large parking lot and UAB-owned Medical Towers are located on the eastern block of the proposed park.
The western block contains a number of small UAB buildings and a parking lot.
Most but not all of the property is owned by UAB. There are four or five private properties on those blocks, according to Templeton.
“We reached out to the private property owners and discussed our intent to develop the park with those who spoke with us,” Templeton said.
The private properties include several medical and tax preparation offices.
It’s possible that UAB might demolish some of the buildings or remove parking lots, according to Templeton.
However, UAB doesn’t have any contracts for demolition on those blocks and are not yet at that stage, according to Templeton.
“We will need to change current land uses to realize our plans for the space,” he said.
He also said that Medical Towers, a large UAB office and professional building, will “definitely” remain in place.
Templeton said that he is “elated” to be working on the proposed new green space.
“I love big idea projects that build communal space, foster connections and strengthen relationships, especially between different communities,” Templeton said.
