Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Birmingham council approves rezoning for Caraway Hospital redevelopment with 35-foot height limit
Summary
The council approved Case ZAC2025-10 to rezone about 8.5 acres around the former Caraway Hospital to a qualified multiple dwelling district (QD-5) with a condition limiting building heights to 35 feet. Neighbors raised traffic, noise and ownership concerns during the public hearing.
The Birmingham City Council voted Dec. 2 to rezone roughly 8.5 acres near the former Caraway Hospital to QD-5 (qualified multiple dwelling), clearing the way for townhomes, duplexes and cottages on the site.
Kim Spiro, the city zoning administrator, told the council the request—filed by CR Endeavors on behalf of Northside Development LLC—matches the city's long-range land-use plan for the blocks and that the Planning & Zoning committee recommended approval subject to one condition: height of all structures limited to 35 feet.
Developer Brian Wolf said the first phase will include 64 homes (a mix of townhomes, cottages and multiplex units) with later phases adding roughly 120 units in total. Wolf said the project includes parking, rehabilitation of on-site parking garages and a transportation demand management plan; he added the intent is to provide pedestrian infrastructure and internal amenity space.
Several neighbors spoke during the public hearing. Ronald Williams said he was concerned about extra traffic and noise for residents living across from the former hospital site, noting many neighbors are older. Denise Mason expressed support for the redevelopment but urged the developer to include for-sale units rather than rely entirely on rentals, saying earlier presentations had mentioned ownership opportunities.
Councilors pressed the developer for clarity about neighborhood conditions and compatibility. Doctor O'Quinn and others explained the 35-foot height condition aligns with ongoing revisions to the D-5 zoning rules intended to keep scale compatible with adjacent single-family neighborhoods.
The item was moved and seconded and approved by the council. The rezoning will be subject to the city's stormwater and other development ordinances when the applicant proceeds to permitting.
The council did not record an itemized roll-call tally in the meeting transcript beyond members' voiced approval; the presiding officer declared the item passed and directed staff to proceed with next steps.
