Blight to Bling
West Homewood Anticipates New Mixed-Use Redevelopment
By Cindy Riley CEG CORRESPONDENT
When the wrecking ball came down on the Econo Lodge motel on Oxmoor Road off Interstate 65 in West Homewood, it marked a new chapter for nearby residents. An ongoing redevelopment is transforming the neglected property into a mixed-use space that will feature housing, restaurants and retail.
Construction of the $32.5 million, 98,000-sq.-ft. project began this spring, and should be completed by the first half of 2025.
“With fantastic schools, a plethora of celebrated local businesses and restaurants and its walkability, West Homewood continues to be a highly desired area for both residential and commercial in greater Birmingham,” said Village Creek Development President Tom Walker. “This site sits at the entrance of the neighborhood and marks the start of West Homewood. It’s important for it to be something that embodies and matches the neighborhood versus the former crime-ridden motel that it once was.
“Village Creek Development has worked closely with both city council and the community from the start of this project, gathering feedback and understanding what the area needs most,” he added. “So far, most of the feedback has been incredibly encouraging and supportive.”
Some head-turning activity along Pine Street in Florence, Ala., just before Independence Day signaled the physical start of making a longtime dream a reality for the University of North Alabama (UNA).
Heavy construction equipment began razing the school’s Mike D. Lane Field on July 2, marking the start of the demolition phase at the site of what will become the new on-campus Bank Independent Stadium.
“We had a steady stream of interested onlookers with all of the activity on July 2 at the Bank Independent Stadium site,” Athletic Director Josh Looney told the Florence Times Daily. “The presence of tall cranes removing lighting structures paired simultaneously with the arrival of large excavators beginning demo work made for a very active and visible kickoff to construction.”
Construction
Stone Building Company Opens New Chapter for Residents
Walker said the vision for West Row was to create a development that would seamlessly integrate with its surroundings. He noted El Barrio and Paramount will occupy 100 percent of the project’s commercial space, while inbetween the two restaurants will be an arcade and event space, as well as outdoor dining behind the building.
“We wanted to create housing that complemented one’s various seasons of life, ranging from young adults and families to empty nesters. Above El Barrio and Paramount, there are 18 two-bedroom, two-bath lofts that celebrate urban living and feature Juliet balconies. Positioned behind the mixed-use building, a community of townhomes will offer 48 townhomes for rent.
Walker said the completion of West Row will mark a fresh start for the neighborhood.
“There will no longer be days of school lockdowns due to crime at the former Econo Lodge. Instead, there will be community and connection with new neighbors and great food.”
Local residents actually gathered to watch the structure come down.
“We took an untraditional approach to the groundbreaking ceremony with a ‘demo day’ event,” Walker said. “Knowing how much this former motel negatively impacted the West Homewood community, we decided to celebrate its departure with the neighborhood and hosted an event across the street from the project. We had face painting for kids and complimentary food. There were also renderings displayed, so that residents could understand what the project would ultimately look like. They could also ask our team any follow-up questions.
“It’s very exciting to see the project come to life, both for us and the community. This is our first ground-up development, and it really embodies what we strive to do with all our projects by creating places that lead people to be inspired, connected and energized.”
Village Creek Development is a full-service development platform that creates unique residential, retail and mixed-use properties throughout the South. Led by Walker, along with
Blake Berg and Sam Heide of Wicker Park Capital Management and Crawford Square Real Estate Advisors, the company is headquartered in Birmingham. The project team for the West Homewood effort includes Poole & Company Architects, Schoel Engineering, Arlington Properties and general contractor Stone Building Company.
“The property was an active motel in deteriorating condition,” said Stone Building Project Manager Chandler Scott. “The existing material and all of the existing hardscapes had
to be demoed and removed. The property was fenced off and cleared. The demolition lasted two months to prepare the site for new construction.”
Tasks currently under way include site work concrete, underground utilities, framing, waterproofing/roofing, exterior skin/masonry and structural steel.
Structural concrete was completed a month earlier than scheduled. Key work remaining includes exterior skin completion, interior drywall completion, power at all locations and site hardscapes/landscaping.
Approximately 12,000 cu. yds. of dirt were removed from the site. Rain and freezing temperatures delayed stages of the early project during grading and concrete construction.
Excavators, dozers and dump trucks were used to carry out the grading and demolition.
Lulls/forklifts, manlifts and skid steers are used for the framing and skin components of the project. Main materials include concrete, wood, steel and gypsum board.
The most time-consuming part of construction will be trim work and finishing out units. Major construction milestones include framing completion, interior drywall completion and exterior hardscapes/landscaping.
Stone Building Operations Manager Bradley Meadows said preparing for retail, housing and dining on a project of this nature is no small undertaking.
“Most aspects of construction are required to be planned out correctly from the beginning design stages to ensure the living and retail spaces are well built, operationally functional and aesthetically pleasing. It starts with the layout of the project and continues all the way to when the final appliances are installed.”
Meadows added, “This is a special project to get to build because of the immediate needs it will meet for the residents of and visitors to West Homewood. Stone is Birminghambased, so we enjoy getting to serve the greater community by bringing projects that provide new housing and new retail to our area.” CEG
(All photos courtesy of Stone Building LLC)
The general contractor on the project is Stone Building Company.
Approximately 12,000 cu. yds. of dirt were removed from the site.
Tasks currently under way include site work concrete and underground utilities.
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Birmingham’s HPM, Davis Head UNA’s New Baseball Stadium
The baseball stadium off Pine Street, along with an adjacent field that is used for the university’s soccer games and football practices as well as a nearby field where the UNA Marching Pride practices, are being demolished to make room for the athletics complex.
Bank Independent Stadium will include a 10,000-seat football and soccer field and an adjacent baseball field. Together, the new facilities — along with a turf field near the softball complex on Cox Creek Parkway — have an estimated price tag of $65 million.
Other stadium amenities include the ability for future expansion, a 360-degree fan concourse, a premium tower featuring a new weight room, 13 spacious suites, a multipurpose stadium club, outdoor gathering areas and multiple seating options with new fan features.
The football portion of the complex is scheduled to be completed by the fall of 2026, while the baseball field is slated for its first game next spring, the Times Daily reported.
In addition, while Bank Independent Stadium is being built, the field on Cox Creek Parkway will be used for soccer games and football and band practices. Once the construction project is finished, the Cox Creek field will become the permanent practice site for the UNA band.
Baseball Park to Be Ready for 2025
Concurrent with construction on Bank Independent Stadium, work also is taking place at the baseball field adjacent to the stadium and at the UNA Spring Sports Complex at Cox Creek.
UNA Baseball will enjoy a reimagined space for the 2025 season that will include a new playing surface, an all-chairback seating concourse, a video board and a unique outfield wall that resembles Fenway Park’s historic “Green Monster” in Boston.
While site construction will continue into 2026, the majority of the amenities for the baseball team and its fans are targeted to come online in 2025.
“We are working to ensure baseball’s space will be as complete as possible to host practices in January, followed by home competition in March 2025,” Looney said. “While we will address logistics to host baseball competition through the construction process, we plan for baseball to play its 2025 season on campus and believe fans will enjoy some of the new experiences we will be integrating as part of the space.”
Top Contractors Working On UAB Sports Complex
Over the last year, UNA has partnered with Hoar Project Management (HPM) and Davis Architects, both based in Birmingham, to begin the initial work on Bank Independent Stadium, according to a news release from the university, while Mammoth Sports Construction in Kansas partnered with the architectural firm.
Birmingham-based Jim Cooper Construction was awarded the construction bid to begin work on the project’s first phase, which includes the baseball construction and stadium site groundwork.
“Our partners at Cooper Construction have had full-time project supervisors on site since the groundbreaking ceremony on June 14 working alongside the city and subcontractors to prepare existing utilities, electricity, and pre-construction logistics for the start of demolition,” Looney told the Florence news source.
“It was exciting to move into the more visible stages of our timeline,” he added.
“We anticipate the site demo will be complete at the end of July with groundwork beginning in August as we transition fall football, soccer, and baseball practices to our new multipurpose turf facility at Cox Creek Park as well as the Florence Sportsplex.”
Carbine Construction, a general contractor from Florence, also started work on the Cox Creek project a month ago. That field is expected to be ready in time for football operations before the start of the fall semester in August.
Turf installation began in the second week of July, and Looney said the facility should be ready for use by the end of July.
“The project has been coordinated well, with [the Cox Creek] construction winding down as work at the Bank Independent Stadium site ramps up,” he explained.
“The arrival of this complex will be an immediate asset to the larger community with its ability to host football and soccer events, cross country/track workouts, band practices, and UNA intramural activities. The visual enhancements of the complex are striking with the field and track being adjacent to the Hilda B. Anderson Softball Stadium and the UNA beach volleyball courts.”
Dream Finally Being Fulfilled
When the Bank Independent Stadium project broke ground in mid-June, it was the culmination of more than 50 years of planning, hoping and dreaming by generations of UNA students, alumni and university officials.
The event came just a few hours after members of the UNA Board of Trustees unanimously approved a resolution authorizing and supporting the stadium’s design and overall budgetary approach, which paved the way for moving the project into its third and final phase.
“Today’s groundbreaking further solidifies our Board’s commitment to fund this capital project,” Will Trapp, president pro tempore of UNA’s Board, said. “We have received great support from alumni and friends, community organizations, and, of course, from our naming rights partner, Bank Independent.
“That base of funding will be supple-
mented by enhancements in athletic revenue from having our own stadium. We also view this investment in UNA Athletics as one for the [Muscle] Shoals community as well. Our hope is that it will be a place for people to come together in support of this university and make memories that will join them to us and to each other. We need to invest in things that bring us together. Our students asked for this years ago, and it’s exciting to see it finally happening.”
The launch of the historic Shine On, Gold comprehensive campaign to raise $100 million for UNA helped propel the project forward, the university noted in its news release.
Total fundraising for the stadium has soared past $25 million, and school officials expect to add significantly to that figure now that work on the project has gotten under way.
To bolster the effort, the UNA Board of Trustees has authorized the university to borrow up to $35 million toward the cost of construction. Additionally, the UNA athletic department reserved funds for the work during the planning process and is making those monies available for construction. Stadium proceeds in areas such as concessions, parking, signage, sponsorships and ticket sales will help as well.
The UNA Student Government Association passed a resolution in 2018 that favored a new on-campus stadium and indicated a willingness by students to shoulder a fee as part of building a new facility. But university officials made clear that the school would never impose such a fee to build or operate Bank Independent Stadium.
In fact, at the UNA Board of Trustees meeting authorizing and supporting the stadium project, its members unanimously approved the 2024-2025 tuition schedule, which includes no increases for undergraduate students for a second consecutive year.
Alabama AGC Sees Record Attendance at Annual Convention
The Alabama Associated General Contractors hosted its 40th Annual Convention on June 13-16 in Sandestin, Fla., at the Sandestin Hotel.
The 2024 Alabama AGC convention attracted the largest turnout to date with more than 500 attendees assembling on the Gulf Coast. The three-day event provides a platform for members to engage in industry networking, discuss construction-related legislation and access educational resources.
Guests had the opportunity to hear from headliner speaker Will Ainsworth, the Lieutenant Governor for the State of Alabama, and Caroleene Dobson, a candidate for the Second Congressional District. Tom Brown, national president of the AGC of America from the San Diego,
California chapter, offered members and prospective members an insight into the promising future of AGC of America. Brown emphasized the future landscape of the industry's workforce and the members' endeavors to expand and strengthen the construction industry.
“We are so proud of our Alabama AGC family and the support they show at this event year after year," said Billy Norrell, CEO of Alabama AGC. "We are seeing the next generation of leaders emerge as young families within our member companies attend in record numbers, bringing their children to join in the AGC way of doing things. The number of participants at this year’s event is living proof that the health of our organization is extremely strong and only growing.”
The general session encompassed a legislative update presented by Trace Zarr, Alabama AGC's central section manager and lobbyist. Paxton Heath, representing Morgan Stanley, addressed retirement changes in the Secure 2.0 Act and the Alabama AGC 401(k) Multiple Employer Plan. Rich Jones from YouTurn Health presented the significance of mental health support within the workplace. The session also included a presentation by the Auburn University McWhorter School of Building Science Student AGC Chapter, detailing the chapter's activities. Members and their families enjoyed fellowship and networking along with a fun-filled itinerary including a golf tournament, crab hunt for the kids and time on the beach.
