Birmingham approves 320 Martin construction staging, commission asks city to study parking‑loss fee

The Birmingham City Commission on Sept. 8 approved a construction‑stage coordination agreement that allows the developer of 320 Martin to use portions of Bates Street and public parking on Martin and Maple for staging and a tower‑crane operation while building a five‑story mixed‑use structure. The vote was unanimous; commissioners included a direction that staff research whether the city should charge the developer for lost public parking and report back.

What the agreement allows: the developer and the construction manager will use on‑street spaces on Martin (about eight spaces) and Maple (about four spaces) and portions of Bates Street for crane access and staging. City staff and the project team counted about 19 affected parking spaces when the dining platform and existing spaces are included. Bates Street — which dead‑ends to the north and is adjacent to the project site — will be closed to through traffic in the immediate work area for the duration of certain phases; the county and project team said alley access will be preserved for deliveries when possible and that full disruptions to access should be limited to short windows when crews tie new utilities into the system.

Timeline and restorative commitments: the agreement extends through Dec. 31, 2027, the commission was told. The developers agreed to repave Bates Street from Martin to Maple at the end of construction and for city staff to review and require any necessary repairs to parking or roadway surfaces created by construction. Developers noted the project is already entitled through the city’s site‑plan review process and includes mixed uses: retail/personal service at the storefront level, office and residential on upper floors, plus subsurface and at‑grade parking.

Developer and construction remarks: Sam Serna, listed with the property owner/investment group, said the team had been working with the community and the nearby church and preschool and that they did not intend to cause unnecessary business disruption. Richard Check of the Allen Group (construction manager) said the crane and structural‑steel deliveries require the Bates staging area because the building footprint sits at the property line and “getting it onto Martin does no good” for large steel lifts.

Commission questions and condition: commissioners pressed staff and the developer on parking impacts, traffic detours and effects on nearby businesses and the adjacent preschool. Melissa Fairburn, assistant city manager, and city engineers described detour routing during short periods of utility tie‑in and said alley access would be preserved except for limited multi‑day windows when underground work must occur. Commissioner Clinton Ballard and others raised the loss of on‑street public parking; the commission asked staff to investigate whether the city has precedent for charging developers for temporary use of public parking spaces and to return to the commission with a recommendation. The motion approving the agreement included a note that staff would investigate a possible fee or amendment to the agreement once precedent and policy are confirmed.

Vote and outcome: the commission approved the construction coordination agreement by roll‑call vote; Mayor Therese Long, Mayor Pro Tem Ballard and Commissioners Anthony Long, Andrew Hague, Katie Schaeffer, Jason Emery and Commissioner Host voted yes.

Ending: staff will track the project phasing, require pavement and utility repairs at project completion, continue neighborhood notifications, and bring back a staff recommendation about whether a parking‑loss charge should be added to the agreement.