City Council vote clears way for new housing in Woodlawn

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The Birmingham City Council — at its regular meeting for Tuesday, Feb. 4 — approved a rezoning request that clears the way for a new residential cottage and townhouse development in the South Woodlawn community.

After a public hearing, the council voted 7-0 to approve the rezoning of five properties located at 5984, 6004 and 6012 Georgia Road and 200 and 216 61st St. S.,

The zoning will change from R-4, two-family and semi-attached dwelling district, and R-5, multiple dwelling district, to D-5, multiple dwelling district.

The rezoning request was filed by Dynamic Civil Solutions, representing the owner, WF Real Property Resources LLC. The Woodlawn Foundation nonprofit is one of the principals in the LLC, according to online sources.

The project consists of two parts, according to a staffer from the city’s Department of Planning, Engineering and Permits.

The first part will be eight senior-citizen cottages, each with two bedrooms and one bath, and an outdoor pavilion.

The second part includes 11 townhouses and one detached single-family home, each with three bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms, as well as landscaping and lighting

“From a planning perspective and a design perspective, we are trying to make it seamless, so it looks like one big development,” said Bolaji Kukoyi, the president of Dynamic Civil Solutions.

Councilor Steven Hoyt called the development “a great opportunity for us to revitalize our city” in a Jan. 7 council news release.

“I think we need to try and continue to duplicate this in all our communities,” said Hoyt, who serves as chair of the council’s Planning and Zoning Committee. 

The South Woodlawn Neighborhood Association voted 7-0 on Oct. 5 to recommend approval of the rezoning request.

Hoyt;’s committee and the city’s Zoning Advisory Committee also recommended approval.