Birmingham Public Safety Complex

The Birmingham Public Safety Complex is the anchor for a proposed public-private redevelopment project covering several blocks of downtown Ensley. The complex would provide new space for the Birmingham Municipal Court, Birmingham Police Headquarters and Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service administrative offices, and would involve renovation of the historic 10-story Ramsay-McCormack Building, which has stood vacant since 1979.

The $40 million proposal was announced on November 30, 2016 by Mayor William Bell. In addition to the public safety functions, the overall project would also include a mixed use development, called "Ensley Junction" which would be developed in partnership with the non-profit Bethel-Ensley Action Task (BEAT). That development, subsidized with $6.5 million in city funds, would create a landscaped park space on the block between Avenue E and Avenue F and between 17th and 18th Streets. Three sides of the park would have residential and retail buildings, with the public safety complex occupying the entire block to the south. Parking lots or decks would also be constructed on city-owned parcels nearby.

The timing of Bell's announcement coincided with a ruling in a 2012 lawsuit accusing the city of negligence in allowing the vacant Ramsay-McCormack building to deteriorate. Judge Mike Graffeo ordered the city to demolish the structure, but then revised his order to allow the city to pursue redevelopment, with a deadline of February 10, 2017 to begin work on the site and for the building to be re-opened within two years.

ArchitectureWorks, which had performed feasibility studies for the city in 1998, prepared new preliminary space-planning studies dated February 3, 2017 which were submitted to Judge Graffeo in an attempt to satisfy his order for work to begin.

References

• Edgemon, Erin (November 30, 2016) "Birmingham mayor proposes $40 million plan to move municipal court, police, and fire headquarters to Ensley." The Birmingham News
• Owens, Cody (December 2, 2016) "Judge orders Ramsay-McCormack Building to be demolished." Weld for Birmingham
• Edgemon, Erin (December 6, 2016) "Group asks for judge to reconsider Ramsay McCormack demolition." The Birmingham News
• Edgemon, Erin (February 9, 2017) "Historic Ramsay McCormack building could bring office space to Ensley." The Birmingham News