Oak Hill subdivision

This article is about the planned 28-home development project in Belview Heights. For other uses, see Oak Hill (disambiguation).

The Oak Hill project is a planned development of 28 new detached houses on the site of the former Camellia Terrace Apartments, just north of the Vinesville section of the Belview Heights neighborhood in Ensley, centered on the intersection of Avenue K and 51st Street Ensley, near Brown Elementary School.

The project was developed by BCR Development with the support of the Washington D.C.-based National Community Reinvestment Coalition's Housing Rehab Fund, with the intention of helping Black households build wealth through home equity. The homes range in size from 1,277 to 1,350 square feet, and are planned to be sold for $170,000 to $200,000. Buyers can qualify for down payment assistance.

The program, funded initially at $25 million, is expected to continue over four years with as many as 200 homes to eventually be constructed on city-owned or land-banked properties in several neighborhoods.

Ground was broken for the new homes at Oak Hill in June 2021. Developers worked with the Birmingham Construction Industry Authority to provide opportunities for historically-disadvantaged businesses to participate. The first new owners were expected to close by the end of the year.

In January 2022 the City of Birmingham awarded the redevelopment project a $540,000 subsidy from the city's allotment of American Rescue Plan Act funds. The boost helped to offset rising construction costs while lowering the average sale price into the range of $165,000 to $180,000.

References

• Pernell, Avalon (June 23, 2021) "Nonprofit investing $25M to build homes in Ensley." Birmingham Business Journal
• Pernell, Avalon (June 25, 2021) "Ensley housing project breaks ground, other neighborhoods targeted for program." Birmingham Business Journal
• Prickett, Sam (January 25, 2022) "Birmingham Council Uses Rescue Funds to Boost Affordable Housing Development." BirminghamWatch
• Parker, Illyshia (October 7, 2022) "Subdivisions springing up across city of Birmingham." Birmingham Business Journal