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Council approves amended Brookwood Village plan to allow Andrews medical use; public urged broader community engagement
Summary
The council approved an amended final development plan for the former Belk department store at Brookwood Village, clearing the way for a medical tenant (Andrews) and requiring recorded permanent off-site parking easements; a local resident urged the city to delay approval to form an advisory group and develop a broader master plan.
The Homewood City Council voted 11-0 to set a public hearing and then approve an amended final development plan for the former Belk department store at Brookwood Village that would allow a conversion for medical-related uses and related off-site parking easements.
Developers' representative Paul Darden told the council the ownership group is local and committed to redeveloping the former department store to bring activity back to Brookwood Village. "Our ownership is local here to Birmingham, is committed to the future," Darden said when he addressed the council.
A member of the public, Jeremy Love of 1626 20th Avenue South, urged the council to delay approval and asked for broader public engagement. "I'm asking that you vote against tonight's proposed item so that we as community all together can come together and formulate a comprehensive master plan for the future of Brookwood Village site," Love said during public comment.
Council response and vote: several council members said they appreciated Love's work and report but said the site has been vacant for years and that the city needs progress. Council discussion referenced the project as a catalyst that could spur further development; councilors described Andrews as a locally known anchor tenant that could attract additional uses. The council voted 11-0 to adopt the amended final development plan; the ordinance adopting the amendment is recorded as Ordinance 29-34.
Parking easement condition: during the ordinance reading a staff member noted an added provision to exhibit B: off-site parking spaces depicted as serving the Andrews project must be provided by permanent parking easements recorded and approved by the city attorney prior to the commencement of construction of the Andrews project. That proviso was included in the final development plan language and will be required before construction begins.
Why it matters: Brookwood Village is a high-profile redevelopment site that councilors said has been empty for several years. Some residents and nearby ward representatives told the council they want a broader, master-planned approach and stronger public engagement; developers and other councilors said a tenant such as Andrews could be the catalyst to attract further investment.
Next steps: the council set a public hearing date and added the permanent parking easement requirement to the plan; the approved ordinance instructs staff to ensure easements are recorded and reviewed by the city attorney prior to the start of construction. The council recorded no opposing votes on the ordinance.
