Rosedale
The Rosedale community is one of three that came together to become the city of Homewood in 1926. The majority of the population of Rosedale is and has been African-American since it was first settled in the 1880s. The neighborhood is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Geography and history
Rosedale is located along the northern edge of Homewood, roughly bordered by the Homewood city limits to the north (meeting the Birmingham city limits), downtown Homewood to the south, U.S. Highway 31 to the west, and B.M. Montgomery Street along the east side. Griffin Brook runs through the western portion of the neighborhood.
The neighborhood once covered approximately 110 acres. A significant portion of the neighborhood was lost during the 1950's with the construction of Robbins Drive (now named Rosedale Drive), which links 18th Street South with the Highway 31/Highway 280 interchange. The neighborhood was also bisected by 18th Street as it was expanded to multiple lanes. It now only covers less than 30 acres.
Revitalization controversy
The Rosedale Community Development Corporation (RCDC), headed by Adrienne Lee, seeks to halt any further rezoning of Rosedale's residential lots to commercial lots while they develop plans to help revitalize the neighborhood.
There is opposition from Myrtle Lee Tinsley, Adrienne Lee's sister-in-law and one of the biggest property holders in Rosedale. In 2005 she stated, "Rosedale is a lost cause" and believes much of the property in Rosedale will do better as commercial developments. She further said that the RCDC has not included her in the development of any Rosedale revitalization plans and would object to them because of that.1
References
- Jordan, Phillip. "Tracking Down the Truth" [1]. Birmingham Weekly 12 May 2005.
External Links
- Rosedale Revitalization PDF at the City of Homewood website
- Rosedale Urban Renewal PDF at the City of Homewood website