The Homewood Star TheHomewoodStar.com
May 2013
Volume 3 | Issue 2 | May 2013
Expanding your world brew
neighborly news & entertainment for Homewood
Reconsidering Roseland Council weighing price vs. resident preference for sidewalk project Left, Roseland Drive resident and Homewood business owner Mark Quenelle stands with the Japanese Maple he planted in his front yard. Adding sidewalks to the street could benefit the area’s many pedestrians, but could also reduce the size of resident’s yards. Photo by Megan Smith.
Brett Huey, one of five owners of Seeds Coffee Co. in West Homewood, seeks to not only serve quality coffee to its customers but also to connect them with the people and places that produce it.
Food page 13
Fresh options
By MEGAN SMITH Mark Quenelle planted a Japanese Maple in his front yard when he first moved to Homewood 15 years ago, wanting to add to the diminishing canopy of Roseland Drive.
“Trees provide shade and cooling,” said the Quenelle Landscape Design and Construction owner. “A lot of trees have been taken down on Roseland by people coming through and flipping houses.” The Japanese Maple, along with
other remaining trees alongside the north side of the road, are in the path of potential sidewalk construction. When Homewood City Council members Heather Reid and Jennifer Wallis informed Quenelle that placing the sidewalks in the yards
was approved, he acted fast. But his trees aren’t the most important thing he stands to lose if the city decides to place a sidewalk through his front yard.
See Roseland | page 29
New look for West Homewood Farmers market season returns to Homewood this month. Find where you can stock up on fresh fruits and flowers beginning May 11.
Community page 8
INSIDE Sponsors ................. 2 City ........................... 3 Community ............. 4 Business .................. 10 Food ......................... 12 School House ......... 21 Sports ...................... 25 Calendar ................. 30 Opinion .................... 31
Pre-Sort Standard U.S. Postage PAID Birmingham, AL Permit #656
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City Council to consider form-based development code for area By JEFF THOMPSON West Homewood is suffering from an identity crisis. From the outside, the quiet community may appear to be an industrial complement to refined and recently renovated areas of the city, but residents see something more – potential. And they aren’t the only ones. A survey by the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham (RPC) found residents “overwhelmingly favored” future development that would create opportunities for neighborhood-scaled shops, restaurants and businesses. Residents also, according to RPC, indicated they wanted to see more wide sidewalks, street trees, benches, outdoor dining and well-lit streets designed to slow traffic. Some members of the Homewood City Council agree, and they may have the opportunity to begin the process. A new form-based development code for West Homewood designed by RPC could be ready for a Council vote this month. Philip Amthor, senior planner
See CODE | page 28
Above, this rendering of the intersection of Oak Grove Road and Oxmoor Road was presented as a possible direction for new development in West Homewood under the proposed form-based code. The rendering was presented by The Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham. Image courtesy of RPC. Left, RPC planners discuss the results of their study and their renderings with residents at the Homewood Senior Center. Photo by Jeff Thompson.