9 minute read
NEWS
Hoover Wants Health Care Facility at the Galleria
By Anne Ruisi
Some type of health care facility could be in the Riverchase Galleria’s future, as Hoover city officials look into redevelopment of the largest enclosed mall in Alabama and the adjacent Patton Creek shopping center.
The city’s Health Care Authority has hired an attorney with expertise in the health care industry to prepare the paperwork for a Certificate of Need, which is required by the state, Mayor Frank Brocato said.
“It’s interesting. Hoover is the sixth-largest city in the state. We’re a city of 100,000 and need a medical facility,” the mayor said.
A Certificate of Need affirms that a proposed health care facility is needed in an area after looking at other facilities in the vicinity. Brocato said it’s clear Hoover needs one.
The proposal is part of the city’s comprehensive plan, which maps growth and opportunities for redevelopment. The Galleria and Patton Creek are two well-established commercial developments that are important to the city as major contributors to Hoover’s commercial tax base, Brocato said.
The vacant Sears store at the Galleria offers an opportunity for redevelopment.
“We have the Sears store and looked at how it could be filled. We believe it is a great place for a great health care facility,” the mayor said, adding that the city is also studying what type of facility would best fit the site.
The Galleria offers remarkable opportunities as the footprint of retail changes, with plenty of parking and excellent travel access, Brocato said.
Two ideas that have been discussed are transforming the vacant Sears store into a large surgical center or a small center for overnight stays following procedures.
“We’ve talked to physicians and health administrators. So many things are moving out to surgical centers,” he said.
Having such a facility at the mall would benefit people who accompany someone undergoing a procedure by giving them something to do, the mayor said.
Developing health care facilities is a national trend in retail centers as owners look for new ways to use vacant space left by closed big box stores such as Sears, which once was the largest retailer in the country.
That Hoover would like a medical facility there by no means signifies the Galleria is failing, Brocato said.
“It’s not dying” and remains “very vibrant,” with 6 million cars carrying shoppers visiting a year, Brocato said.
“We know retail is changing, he said. “I see every weekend people from all over the state there and it’s not unusual to see tour buses,” he said.
Plans for the Galleria are among the ideas being studied as part of the overall redevelopment of the U.S. 31 and Alabama 150 corridors, the mayor said. A state-of-the-art performing arts center, for example, is one proposal that has a lot of community support.
Hoover also is working with Patton Creek’s owner to develop proposals for Patton Creek, which the city hopes to roll out later this year or by next summer.
“It’s still a work in progress,” Brocato said.
Journal photo by Jordan Wald
“It’s not dying” and remains “very vibrant,” with 6 million cars carrying shoppers visiting (the Galleria, above) a year, Hoover mayor Frank Brocato said.
Ribbon Cutting Marks Renovation of Samford’s Buchanan Hall
Samford University celebrated the renovation of Buchanan Hall with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Sept. 1.
School officials, students, faculty and staff, alumni and civic leaders attended the ceremony, which was held on the quad. The university’s marching band and A Cappella Choir performed for those gathered.
The 15-month renovation transformed Buchanan Hall, which has housed the School of the Arts’ music program since 1958, with state-of-theart improvements, Ashley Smith, the university’s marketing and communications manager said.
The project re-imagined the space, providing areas for growth and, most importantly, access for all students and faculty members, Smith said. Davis Architects, a firm that has guided Samford’s campus design for decades, created plans to transform the interior of the building to meet students’ needs.
The renovation of Buchanan Hall honors the historical architecture outside while creating more welcoming, contemporary spaces inside. There are community gathering spaces for students and faculty, which will encourage interaction and collaboration as the focus is on the needs of training 21st-century musicians, Smith said.
There is a glass front on the first floor, which contains a student-centered zone with a student commons, instrument storage, practice rooms, a computer lab and a new recording studio, she said.
On the second floor, a glass-fronted office in the reception area for the School of the Arts welcome center allows more natural light into the area. Administrative offices, studios and classrooms round out this level.
Classrooms and faculty studios are located on the third floor, and the fourth floor has offices, a commons area and a smaller classroom/conference room space, Smith said.
Other updates include a new elevator, additional stairs, sound proofing, technology-efficient classrooms and labs, and better-quality practice rooms and studios.
Journal photo by Jordan Wald Samford University president Beck Taylor, (looking up) cuts the ribbon at Buchanan Hall. He’s joined by community leaders and school representatives, from left, Meredith Drennen, Turner Burton, Neil Davis, Jeff Poleshek, Larry Thompson, Cindy St. Clair and Rebekah Lamb.
Mountain Brook Voters Reelect 2 to Council
By Anne Ruisi
Mountain Brook voters returned two incumbents to the City Council and elected a member of the city’s Planning Commission to replace Councilwoman Alice Womack, who did not run for another term.
Graham Smith defeated Christopher Powanda for Womack’s Place 1 seat, 5,530 votes to 1,990, according to unofficial results from the city’s website, www.mtnbrook.org. Smith won with 73.5% of the vote.
In Place 2, incumbent William S. “Billy” Pritchard III defeated Kent Osband with 5,320 votes to 2,186 votes. Pritchard won with 70.7% of the votes.
In Place 3, incumbent Lloyd C. Shelton defeated Tate A. Davis 5,051 votes to 2,459 votes. Shelton won with 67.2% of the votes.
The council was set to certify the election results Aug 30. Smith, Pritchard and Shelton will be sworn in Nov. 7, City Clerk Heather Richards said.
Shown are, from left, Allyson Mouron, Carrywell community relations coordinator; Mallory Wear, Carrywell executive director; Hallie Dawson, Carrywell director of development.
Blessed Brokenness Rebrands as Carrywell, Expands Services
Blessed Brokenness has changed its name to Carrywell and launched Carrywell Groups and Grants.
The faith-based organization supports women and couples struggling with infertility by offering support groups and financial assistance for medical treatments.
Support groups meet weekly for about 10 weeks. Registration for sessions beginning in September and November is open. Visit www.Carrywell.org.
The women-only version of the support groups are based on the book “The Hannah Anointing.”
The organization began in 2018 with one Birmingham-based group for women and now offers groups for women and couples in 16 states.
“The path to parenthood can be challenging, so providing support through our faith-based Carrywell Groups, financial assistance for fertility treatments through our grant program and Invocell partnership, and additional services are crucial resources for couples facing infertility and loss,” Executive Director Mallory Wear said in a statement from Carrywell. “Although our mission remains the same, our heart is to meet people where they are, cultivate and grow relationships and reach those near and far who are on their journey to hope and healing in a hard-to-navigate season.”
Invocell is an affordable in vitro fertilization method that is one-third the cost of traditional IVF.
Carrywell is working to raise more than $75,000 for grants to provide financial assistance for fertility treatments to conceive.
The organization also offers a grief grant program, in which it has partnered with Christian counselors to offer discounted sessions and priority scheduling for those who have lost children, according to its website.
American Village Board Names New President and CEO
Alan B. Miller, a criminal defense attorney from Chelsea, has been named the new president and CEO of the American Village.
Miller replaces American Village founder and former President Tom Walker, who retired in February. Walker will continue as president emeritus.
“Alan is committed to continuing our educational mission of building new leaders by teaching the foundations which built this great country we all are honored to call home,” Carol Brown, chair of the American Village Citizenship Trust board of trustees, said in a statement.
“We look forward to his tenure at the village as we move into a period of growth and new and exciting
partnerships that will continue to expand our reach outside the village campus.” Miller, who was appointed by the board in July, was a founding partner of Hepburn & Miller LLC in Shelby County. He also has been executive director of Shelby County COMPACT 2020 and chief assistant district attorney for the 18th Circuit District Attorney’s Office in Columbiana. He is a colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve with experience in the Marine Forces Europe, in the Republic of Georgia; the 4th Marine Logistics Group and Force Headquarters Group, both in New Orleans; and Alan B. Miller the 3rd Battalion 14th Marines, in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He attended Air War College in Montgomery.
Birmingham Zoo Maintains Accreditation
The Birmingham Zoo has been granted accreditation by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, indicating it has met the highest of standards in all aspects of operations, including animal care and welfare, education and conservation.
The zoo had to submit a lengthy application and pass a thorough inspection by experts in animal welfare and zoo operations to obtain accreditation. Among the other aspects examined were veterinary programs, staff training, safety, financial stability, risk management and visitor services.
AZA requires zoos and aquariums to complete the rigorous accreditation process every five years to maintain accreditation. The Birmingham Zoo is the only AZA-accredited zoo in Alabama.
“We are extremely proud to have achieved AZA accreditation through maintaining the highest standards in animal care and welfare and providing a fun, safe and educational family experience,” Chris Pfefferkorn, Birmingham Zoo president and CEO, said in a statement.
“This is a testament to the outstanding leadership of your zoo’s board of directors and the dedication and commitment of the zoo’s staff,” he continued. “We appreciate the continued support of the community in recognizing that we are a vital resource for working together to educate and inspire the next generation of leaders in the conservation of our natural world.”
Pfefferkorn also has been elected to the AZA board of directors, which guides AZA to support member zoos and aquariums, conserve endangered species and educate the public. There are 241 AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums globally.
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