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Birmingham council approves sale of five city lots to Park Street Homes for eight affordable houses
Summary
The City Council approved an ordinance conveying five vacant lots on Reverend Abraham Woods Jr. Boulevard to Park Street Homes LLC for $1 and authorized up to $360,000 in city assistance to build eight single‑family homes in the Smithfield neighborhood; council members pressed staff on zoning, minimum side yards and resale rules.
The Birmingham City Council approved an ordinance authorizing the mayor to convey five vacant lots at 125 Reverend Abraham Woods Jr. Boulevard to Park Street Homes LLC for a purchase price of $1 and to provide up to $360,000 in city assistance to support development of eight single‑family houses. The measure passed on first reading and was approved by unanimous voice vote.
The project is planned as affordable homeownership in Smithfield, with the city saying the funding will come from HOME program funds. City staff and the developer told councilors the project can be adapted if zoning or spacing requirements require larger side yards.
Miss Stallworth, a community development staffer leading the presentation, said the city intends to treat the site “in the same manner we would zone townhouses” and that staff will continue work with planning and transportation departments to finalize spacing and development plans. Stallworth told the council the city is “flexible on the spacing of the houses if we need to space them a little bit more.”
Park Street Homes owners Kelvin Shelton and Ayesha Shelton and project manager Thad Bilbo introduced themselves in the chamber. Kevin Shelton said, “We are Park Street Homes… we specialize in affordable homeownership products,” and described the firm’s work in Houston and its national affordable‑housing advocacy.
Council members questioned details about lot layout, resale rules and soundproofing. Councilor Mary Abbott asked about the extremely narrow side yards that appear on the submitted concept. “These houses will have 18 inches on either side. Their side yards will be 18 inches,” Abbott said, asking which zoning district would allow that spacing. Stallworth replied the property is zoned single‑family and staff can deliver a plan that provides greater spacing if required.
Councilor Abbott also raised livability concerns: “I can just see that one guy likes his stereo turned up real high, and the guy next door likes to sleep. And 3 feet is nothing and 18 inches is even less.” Developers and staff described construction details intended to reduce noise: project representatives said units will be built with a firewall between attached units, a double layer of sheetrock and insulation; there will be no windows on the firewall side and access is provided from the front and back.
Council discussion addressed resale and rental contingency rules. Stallworth said this requirement comes from the federal HOME program: if units do not sell within an initial period (typically 60–90 days), developers must convert them to rental occupancy so the properties are not left vacant.
Councilors praised community engagement. Several council members noted large turnout at public meetings and thanked staff and Park Street Homes for attending neighborhood events. The ordinance as presented passed on first reading; councilors asked staff to return with final zoning/development details and a confirmed budget breakdown.
Votes and immediate next steps: the council approved the ordinance and authorized conveyance and the funding commitment; staff said they will return with updated development plans and zoning recommendations before final action.
