The Star at Uptown

From Bhamwiki
(Redirected from The Star Uptown)
Jump to navigation Jump to search

The Star at Uptown (previously announced as Northside Park) is a mixed-use redevelopment of the former Carraway Hospital in Birmingham's Norwood neighborhood, which closed in 2008. The name refers to the hospital's landmark rooftop sign, consisting of a rotating, illuminated, blue 5-pointed star— which was refurbished and reused as part of the redevelopment. The project's working budget is between $300 million and $340 million.

Corporate Realty acquired the 47.3-acre property from the Lovelady Center in 2018. As part of its planning process, the company met with the Evergreen, Druid Hills and Norwood neighborhood associations to gauge interest in or opposition to various proposed uses. The company applied for rezoning for a mix of residential, retail, office, hotel and entertainment components in October 2019, agreeing to a 160 foot maximum height and to exclude any outdoor performance venues. At that time, it was reported that CRD was in the process of recruiting a company to use the 125,000 square-foot former Physicians Plaza Building as a headquarters office. The hospital buildings were planned to be renovated as 180 units of "workforce housing". An additional 44 to 48 units of market rate housing were to be constructed on the site by a separate developer, targeted to sell in the $350,000 to $450,000 range. Possible recreational uses included a bowling alley, pickleball courts, concert venues and restaurants. The existing multi-level parking garages would be rehabilitated for re-use.

In 2020 the developer asked the City of Birmingham to consider providing as much as $17 million in tax abatement incentives. The city awarded $4.1 million in incentives in 2020 and offered an additional $9.1 million in abatement of future sales, use and property taxes. In late 2022 CR and the city renegotiated, collecting $3.7 million up front to fund all phases of demolition at once, but cutting the future tax abatement cap in half, to $4.66 million. Some of the incentives offered to the developer were federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act.

By September 2022 four structures had been demolished, including the former Norwood Baptist Church, a building behind the former Norwood Clinic, and two buildings at the corner of 25th Street and 17th Avenue North. Five more were scheduled for demolition. The former Sanders Emergency Services Building, the main hospital building, and the hospital's parking decks are to be renovated for re-use. Apartments in those buildings could open as soon as 2023, with retail, hotel and entertainment uses to follow.

A subdivision of 44 single family homes is slated for the northern end of the property.

References

  • Edgemon, Erin (September 12, 2018) "Input sought as redevelopment plans for Birmingham's former Carraway Hospital take shape." The Birmingham News
  • Van der Bijl, Hanno (October 24, 2019) "Carraway redevelopment takes step forward, but councilors reject amphitheater option." Birmingham Business Journal
  • "City to weigh incentives for Carraway redevelopment." (November 4, 2020) Birmingham Business Journal
  • Van der Bijl, Hanno (January 14, 2021) "Inside the $340M push to transform Carraway into Northside Park." Birmingham Business Journal
  • Thornton, William (October 6, 2021) "Birmingham’s long-vacant Carraway hospital becoming The Star Uptown." The Birmingham News
  • Mann, Joshua (October 6, 2021) "New name, branding, specifics revealed for Carraway development." Birmingham Business Journal
  • "Carraway Demolition To Proceed, Paving Way for Growth in N. Birmingham." (May 10, 2022) The Birmingham Times
  • "Demolition Underway at Former Carraway Site; Rebirth Begins in North Birmingham." (July 29, 2022) The Birmingham Times
  • Anderson, Jon (October 2022) "Stars align for Carraway redevelopment." Iron City Ink
  • Parker, Illyshia (December 5, 2022) "City Council to consider amending The Star project agreement, incentives." Birmingham Business Journal
  • Prickett, Sam (December 7, 2022) "Old Carraway complex to be demolished all at once under new deal with city." BirminghamWatch / WBHM.org