Birmingham Parking Authority: Difference between revisions

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[[Image:BPA logo.png|right|150px]]
[[Image:BPA logo.png|right|150px]]
[[Image:BPA_patch.jpg|right|150px]]
[[Image:BPA_patch.jpg|right|150px]]
The '''Birmingham Parking Authority''', created in [[1972]], oversees the construction and operation of off-street public parking lots and decks for the City of [[Birmingham]]. The Authority is governed by a three-member board of directors, appointed by the [[Birmingham City Council]]. The chairman of the board of directors is [[Larry Ward]]. The executive director is [[Lynn Thomas]]. The authority currently employs 70 full and part-time personnel to operate 7 parking decks and 3 surface lots with a total of 9,718 parking spaces.
The '''Birmingham Parking Authority''', created in [[1972]], oversees the construction and operation of off-street public parking lots and decks for the City of [[Birmingham]]. The Authority is governed by a three-member board of directors, appointed by the [[Birmingham City Council]].  
 
 
The authority currently employs 70 full and part-time personnel to operate 7 parking decks and 3 surface lots with a total of 9,718 parking spaces. Its acting executive director is [[Wanda Knight]].


The authority was authorized by Act 2079 of the Alabama legislature in October [[1971]]. As a "special district government" under Alabama law, the Authority has been able to issue revenue bonds, acquire property and impose service fees. [[Bill Voigt]] served for 14 years as executive director, and was also vice-chairman of the board under [[Ferd Weil]]. The authority was reclassified as a "dependent agency " for the 2002 Census of Governments.
The authority was authorized by Act 2079 of the Alabama legislature in October [[1971]]. As a "special district government" under Alabama law, the Authority has been able to issue revenue bonds, acquire property and impose service fees. [[Bill Voigt]] served for 14 years as executive director, and was also vice-chairman of the board under [[Ferd Weil]]. The authority was reclassified as a "dependent agency " for the 2002 Census of Governments.


In October [[2020]] the newly-formed [[Birmingham Economic Development Partners]], headed by [[Shipt]] founder [[Bill Smith]], offered to purchase six of the city's parking decks for $40,375,000, leaving [[Birmingham Parking Authority Deck 2|Deck 2]] adjacent to [[Boutwell Auditorium]] in BPA hands. Mayor [[Randall Woodfin]] supported the proposed sale as a way to offset the city's revenue shortfall from the [[2020 Coronavirus pandemic]], and potentially re-hire some of the 158 [[Birmingham Public Library]] staff on furlough. The BPA's board of directors criticized the proposal as "short-sighted."
In October [[2020]] the newly-formed [[Birmingham Economic Development Partners]], headed by [[Shipt]] founder [[Bill Smith]], offered to purchase six of the city's parking decks for $40,375,000, leaving [[Birmingham Parking Authority Deck 2|Deck 2]] adjacent to [[Boutwell Auditorium]] in BPA hands. Mayor [[Randall Woodfin]] supported the proposed sale as a way to offset the city's revenue shortfall from the [[2020 Coronavirus pandemic]], and potentially re-hire some of the 158 [[Birmingham Public Library]] staff on furlough. The BPA's board of directors criticized the proposal as "short-sighted," and said that it could modernize on its own.


==BPA facilities==
==BPA facilities==
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* [[Birmingham Parking Authority Lot D]] ([[September 1975]]) - 1801 [[Powell Avenue]], ''218 Spaces''. Sold to [[Alabama Power Company]] in late [[2012]] as part of the proposed redevelopment of the [[Powell Avenue Steam Plant]].
* [[Birmingham Parking Authority Lot D]] ([[September 1975]]) - 1801 [[Powell Avenue]], ''218 Spaces''. Sold to [[Alabama Power Company]] in late [[2012]] as part of the proposed redevelopment of the [[Powell Avenue Steam Plant]].
* [[Birmingham Parking Authority Deck 9]] ([[June 1994]]) - 1912 [[5th Avenue South]], ''840 Spaces - 8 Levels''. Now owned and operated by UAB as the [[5th Avenue Parking Deck]].
* [[Birmingham Parking Authority Deck 9]] ([[June 1994]]) - 1912 [[5th Avenue South]], ''840 Spaces - 8 Levels''. Now owned and operated by UAB as the [[5th Avenue Parking Deck]].
==Executive directors==
* [[Lynn Thomas]], –2019
** [[Wanda Knight]] (acting), 2019–


==References==
==References==
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* Coker, Angel (October 26, 2020) "Birmingham Parking Authority responds to potential sale of downtown decks." {{BBJ}}
* Coker, Angel (October 26, 2020) "Birmingham Parking Authority responds to potential sale of downtown decks." {{BBJ}}
* Coker, Angel (October 27, 2020) "Bill Smith talks plans for downtown parking decks if city approves sale." {{BBJ}}
* Coker, Angel (October 27, 2020) "Bill Smith talks plans for downtown parking decks if city approves sale." {{BBJ}}
* Johnson, Roy S. (February 16, 2021) "Johnson: Parking garages? No sale, but hopefully a vastly improved Birmingham Parking Authority." {{BN}}


==External Links==
==External Links==

Revision as of 15:26, 16 February 2021

BPA logo.png
BPA patch.jpg

The Birmingham Parking Authority, created in 1972, oversees the construction and operation of off-street public parking lots and decks for the City of Birmingham. The Authority is governed by a three-member board of directors, appointed by the Birmingham City Council.


The authority currently employs 70 full and part-time personnel to operate 7 parking decks and 3 surface lots with a total of 9,718 parking spaces. Its acting executive director is Wanda Knight.

The authority was authorized by Act 2079 of the Alabama legislature in October 1971. As a "special district government" under Alabama law, the Authority has been able to issue revenue bonds, acquire property and impose service fees. Bill Voigt served for 14 years as executive director, and was also vice-chairman of the board under Ferd Weil. The authority was reclassified as a "dependent agency " for the 2002 Census of Governments.

In October 2020 the newly-formed Birmingham Economic Development Partners, headed by Shipt founder Bill Smith, offered to purchase six of the city's parking decks for $40,375,000, leaving Deck 2 adjacent to Boutwell Auditorium in BPA hands. Mayor Randall Woodfin supported the proposed sale as a way to offset the city's revenue shortfall from the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic, and potentially re-hire some of the 158 Birmingham Public Library staff on furlough. The BPA's board of directors criticized the proposal as "short-sighted," and said that it could modernize on its own.

BPA facilities

Former facilities

Executive directors

References

  • "Individual State Descriptions: 2002" 2002 Census of Governments Volume 1, Number 2, Individual State Descriptions
  • Bryant, Joseph D. (December 20, 2006) "Local man complains to state ethics group on city's refinance deal." The Birmingham News
  • Bryant, Joseph D. (June 11, 2007) "Parking Authority to raise rates for deck, lot lease holders." The Birmingham News
  • Bryant, Joseph D. (April 3, 2008) "City replacing parking deck security cameras with digital versions." The Birmingham News
  • Prickett, Sam (October 22, 2020) "Woodfin Says Sale of Parking Decks Would Lessen COVID-19’s Economic Damage." BirminghamWatch
  • Johnson, Roy S. (October 22, 2020) "Will proposed sale of parking decks save library jobs, speed neighborhood revitalization?" The Birmingham News
  • Coker, Angel (October 26, 2020) "Birmingham Parking Authority responds to potential sale of downtown decks." Birmingham Business Journal
  • Coker, Angel (October 27, 2020) "Bill Smith talks plans for downtown parking decks if city approves sale." Birmingham Business Journal
  • Johnson, Roy S. (February 16, 2021) "Johnson: Parking garages? No sale, but hopefully a vastly improved Birmingham Parking Authority." The Birmingham News

External Links

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