CrossPlex Village: Difference between revisions

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The resulting proposal, along with conceptual designs from [[Davis Architects]], included offices, retail stores, a 144-unit apartment complex, a hotel as well as additional athletic facilities, a 4,700-seat auditorium, and space for an [[A. G. Gaston Boys and Girls Club]]. Announced tenants included [[Walgreen's]], [[Starbucks Coffee]], [[Huddle House]], [[Salon Suites]], a [[Comfort Inn]] and [[Ninjas]] Japanese restaurant. The project was expected to begin construction in November [[2016]] and to open in the Summer of [[2017]]. The city was expected to contribute $4.77 million for infrastructure improvements.
The resulting proposal, along with conceptual designs from [[Davis Architects]], included offices, retail stores, a 144-unit apartment complex, a hotel as well as additional athletic facilities, a 4,700-seat auditorium, and space for an [[A. G. Gaston Boys and Girls Club]]. Announced tenants included [[Walgreen's]], [[Starbucks Coffee]], [[Huddle House]], [[Salon Suites]], a [[Comfort Inn]] and [[Ninjas]] Japanese restaurant. The project was expected to begin construction in November [[2016]] and to open in the Summer of [[2017]]. The city was expected to contribute $4.77 million for infrastructure improvements.


Some neighborhood leaders, however, have joined with [[Birmingham City Council]] members in raising objections to the proposed new businesses, saying that the district deserves better. With the Council stalling on approval of contracts, the Mayor's office directed the developer to re-open communication with community members to "be sure that the [...] plan reflects what the community and neighborhood leaders want."
Some neighborhood leaders, however, have joined with [[Birmingham City Council]] members in raising objections to the proposed new businesses, saying that the district deserves better. With the Council stalling on approval of contracts, the Mayor's office directed the developer to re-open communication with community members to "be sure that the [...] plan reflects what the community and neighborhood leaders want." After weeks of delays, the Council approved a  $3.74 bid for infrastructure work at the site on [[December 13]].


==References==
==References==
Line 41: Line 41:
* West, Ty (October 17, 2016) "CrossPlex redevelopment could take step forward this week." {{BBJ}}
* West, Ty (October 17, 2016) "CrossPlex redevelopment could take step forward this week." {{BBJ}}
* Kelly, Mark (November 30, 2016) "Two-Star or 10 for West End." {{Weld}}
* Kelly, Mark (November 30, 2016) "Two-Star or 10 for West End." {{Weld}}
* Edgemon, Erin (December 13, 2016) "Birmingham approves $3.74 million package for Crossplex hotel, retail development." {{BN}}


==External links==
==External links==

Revision as of 15:54, 13 December 2016

Fair Park logo.PNG

CrossPlex Village is a redevelopment project encompassing 82 acres of Birmingham's Fair Park at Five Points West with new athletic facilities, residential buildings, and shopping and entertainment venues. The city of Birmingham has invested approximately $50 million to develop the Birmingham CrossPlex athletic center and infrastructure projects in the area, while recruiting private developers for retail, hotel and residential development.

Origins

Shortly after taking office in November 2007 Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford proposed a large-scale redevelopment of Fair Park which would combine athletic facilities with residential, retail and entertainment facilities. The centerpiece of the redevelopment would be indoor track and swimming facilities. On April 8, 2008 the Birmingham City Council approved the use of $48 million in city funds to initiate construction. Langford publicized letters of intent from developers interested in building hotels, a grocery store, and an athletic apparel store in the area as well as a $500,000 commitment from the Alabama High School Athletic Association, which would use the proposed indoor track for statewide championship meets. Later phases would create an "Olympic Village" style residential area with green spaces and high-rise apartments.

According to the mayor's office, $29 million of the city's funding for the project would come from business license fees which were increased in the Birmingham Economic and Community Revitalization Ordinance. Those revenues were earmarked to service bonds for construction of a domed stadium, but bonds would not be issued until 2009. Other funding would come from money earmarked for schools in the Bell Plan (to be used for the athletic facilities), from an economic development fund created by a sales tax increase in the community revitalization ordinance, and from money budgeted to completed or inactive projects and previous allocations to the park.

On June 19, 2008, Langford proposed moving the race track to a site in northwest Birmingham off of Daniel Payne Drive, stating that it didn't fit into Fair Park's redevelopment plan. Demolition of the grandstand began on January 31, 2009 as Langford swung a wrecking ball at the start of a brief ceremony attended by city officials.

The 2010 Birmingham budget showed no appropriations to the project in fiscal years 2009 or 2010. It was later shown that the city had withdrawn money from the city's general fund balance in 2008 to finance preliminary work. Those amounts had been misleadingly factored into the operational budget as part of a "surplus" which turned out to be a deficit.

An August 2009 proposal from Fair Park Real Estate Partners to develop 10 acres of the park as a retail center anchored by CVS Pharmacy and Aldi was tabled by the Council's Administration, Budget and Finance Committee until the developers could produce a comprehensive plan for the site.

Construction

The city moved ahead with construction the Birmingham CrossPlex swimming and track facility.

A request to approve $7.5 million in contracts came before the City Council on September 29. Several councilors, including Steven Hoyt and Valerie Abbott expressed dismay that the only plans they'd seen were the animated renderings shown in early 2009, but after debate, the contracts were approved. Davis Architects was hired to design the complex. Brasfield & Gorrie is construction manager for the project.

Some public funding for improvements was delayed by a crisis in resolving the 2010 Birmingham budget. Tarver Consulting and Development applied for $4.2 million in tax-free Recovery Zone bonds to construct a hotel at the site.

In January 2011 Mayor William Bell suggested using part of a projected surplus in the 2011 Birmingham budget to fund the addition of a second swimming pool at the aquatics center. The pool would be used as a warm-up pool for larger competitions and as a community pool at other times.

In April 2011, as construction neared completion, the Alabama High School Athletic Association agreed to a five year contract to use the building for its state track meets and other events beginning in 2012.

In February 2016 the city entered into a development agreement with Bob Nesbitt, acting as the Urban Community Development Consortium, for a 38-acre mixed use development. The city would install infrastructure and offer a long-term lease while the developer would secure tenants and finance vertical construction.

The resulting proposal, along with conceptual designs from Davis Architects, included offices, retail stores, a 144-unit apartment complex, a hotel as well as additional athletic facilities, a 4,700-seat auditorium, and space for an A. G. Gaston Boys and Girls Club. Announced tenants included Walgreen's, Starbucks Coffee, Huddle House, Salon Suites, a Comfort Inn and Ninjas Japanese restaurant. The project was expected to begin construction in November 2016 and to open in the Summer of 2017. The city was expected to contribute $4.77 million for infrastructure improvements.

Some neighborhood leaders, however, have joined with Birmingham City Council members in raising objections to the proposed new businesses, saying that the district deserves better. With the Council stalling on approval of contracts, the Mayor's office directed the developer to re-open communication with community members to "be sure that the [...] plan reflects what the community and neighborhood leaders want." After weeks of delays, the Council approved a $3.74 bid for infrastructure work at the site on December 13.

References

External links

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