Entertainment Districts

From Bhamwiki
(Redirected from Entertainment District)
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Birmingham Entertainment Districts are specified areas where the consumption of alcoholic beverages is allowed to extend beyond the immediate premises of individual retailers licensed by the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board. In general, visitors are allowed to carry open containers purchased within the district and consume them outdoors within the district, but are not allowed to bring them into other licensed alcohol retailers or other businesses.

These entertainment districts were made possible under the auspices of the Act of Alabama 2012-438, signed by Governor Robert Bentley on August 1, 2012. Under the law certain municipalities may create up to five such districts no larger than 160 acres, and with no fewer than four licensed retailers per district.

Act of Alabama 2019-185, signed May 15, 2019 by Governor Kay Ivey expanded the class of municipalities that could create such districts. Subsequently the cities of Hoover, Trussville and Helena all created such districts.

In 2021, State Representative David Faulkner introduced separate legislation allowing Mountain Brook to designate its three historical commercial villages as entertainment districts.

Calera was authorized to create entertainment districts by Act of Alabama No. 2023-23, signed by Governor Ivey on April 22, 2023.

Birmingham

For the City of Birmingham, an "Entertainment Districts Ordinance" (Ordinance No. 13-118) was passed by the Birmingham City Council and signed by Mayor William Bell on October 1, 2013. The ordinance gives the city the right to determine hours of operation for such districts, requires that beverages sold to be taken outside must be put into paper cups commercially printed to identify the licensee. The city further requires that each district must be licensed to an applicant, such as a merchants association, which is responsible for paying application fees; designing, erecting and maintaining signage to mark the boundaries and policies of the district and waste receptacles; and for managing policies such as the use of wristbands or other controls to facilitate enforcement of alcoholic beverage controls.

Approved Districts
  1. Uptown Entertainment District, implemented September 3, 2015 (5–11 PM Thu–Fri, 12–11 PM Sat–Sun), expanded June 28, 2022 to include Protective Stadium and portions of City Walk Bham.
  2. Pepper Place Entertainment District, authorized January 15, 2019, opened February 22, 2019
  3. Five Points South Entertainment District, authorized December 17, 2019 to take effect March 1, 2020 (5–11 PM Thu, 5 PM–12 AM Fri, 10 AM–12 AM Sat–Sun)
  4. Avondale Entertainment District, authorized June 23, 2020

Homewood

On September 13, 2021 the Homewood City Council approved an entertainment district spanning its entire Downtown Homewood commercial area, north of Oxmoor Road, between Central Avenue and Independence Drive, and south of Rosedale. A second district, along Oxmoor Road and Oak Grove Road in West Homewood, was approved on June 27, 2022.

Approved Districts
  1. Downtown Homewood Entertainment District (5–9 PM Mon-Wed, 12-11 PM Thu–Sat, 12–9 PM Sun)
  2. West Homewood Entertainment District (5–9 PM Mon-Fri, 12-9 PM Sat, 12–5 PM Sun)

Hoover

The amended law allows the city of Hoover to establish up to three entertainment districts. The Hoover City Council approved its first, at Stadium Trace Village, in July 2020.

Approved Districts
  1. Stadium Trace Village Entertainment District

Trussville

The city of Trussville dedicated a city-owned four-block Trussville Entertainment District at the corner of Chalkville Road and Main Street on October 27, 2020.

Approved Districts
  1. Trussville Entertainment District

Helena

On August 10, 2020 the Helena City Council passed an ordinance designating the Old Town Helena district along Alabama State Route 261 between Helena Elementary School and Buck Creek as an entertainment district under the state law. The city's policy was affirmed by Act of Alabama 2023-285 which provided for not more than two such districts in the city.

Approved Districts
  1. Old Town Helena

Mountain Brook

The Mountain Brook City Council passed a resolution in support of creating entertainment districts in English Village, Mountain Brook Village, and Crestline Village. Representative David Faulkner introduced HB 479 on March 21, 2021 Alabama legislative session. It passed the Alabama House of Representatives on March 30 and, enrolled as Act of Alabama No. 2021-214, was signed by Governor Kay Ivey on April 15. The city ordinance establishing those three districts was passed in May.

Pelham

Campus No. 124, a redevelopment of the former Valley Elementary School.

References

  • Thornton, William (January 15, 2019) "Pepper Place designated entertainment district." The Birmingham News
  • Beahm, Anna (December 17, 2019) "Birmingham’s Five Points South designated as entertainment district." The Birmingham News
  • Beahm, Anna (June 23, 2020) "Now, you can walk around and drink in Avondale." The Birmingham News
  • Byington, Pat (July 20, 2020) "Hoover gets first Entertainment District at Stadium Trace Village." Bham Now
  • Etheredge, Alec (August 11, 2020) "Helena Council votes to make Old Town an entertainment district." Shelby County Reporter
  • Byington, Pat (April 5, 2021) "3 Mountain Brook entertainment districts approved by Alabama House." Bham Now
  • Sharp, John (January 29, 2023) "How beer led to one of Alabama’s biggest bipartisan wins in a decade: 'Something we all agree on'." AL.com