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Birmingham commission authorizes city manager to move forward with MOU work to ready 400 East Lincoln for NEXT
Summary
After hours of debate and public comment about preserving YMCA programs and the future use of 400 East Lincoln, the Birmingham City Commission voted to authorize the city manager to proceed under the May 2023 memorandum of understanding with NEXT and to hire an architect to design first-floor renovations.
The Birmingham City Commission on Monday voted to authorize the city manager to proceed under a May 2023 memorandum of understanding with NEXT and to begin design work for renovations at 400 East Lincoln that would prepare space for NEXT to occupy the building's first floor.
City Manager (unnamed) told commissioners the action sought "direction to proceed with the MOU," explaining the plan as a phased approach: hire an architect to prepare drawings for accessibility and reconfiguration of the first floor, and then return to the commission with a lease and construction estimates. She noted the architect contract is under the city's $75,000 threshold and that NEXT contributed $500,000 toward the property purchase. The manager said senior-millage funds dedicated to the project are accumulating and estimated the 3-year levy would generate roughly $3.5 million by its end in mid-2027.
The vote followed more than an hour of commission questioning and extended public comment from residents who raised competing priorities. Several speakers, including Paul Reagan, said "losing the YMCA is a devastating blow to our residents" and urged the commission to protect public-access facilities such as the pool and fitness areas. Others — including residents and representatives from municipalities that partner with NEXT — urged swift action so NEXT would not be homeless when it must leave its current space in mid-2027.
Opponents on the commission urged caution. Commissioner Host said he would not support moving money before a signed lease, calling the sequence "putting the cart before the horse." Commissioner Long pressed for more clarity on long-term options and asked whether the city should prioritize building a smaller new facility rather than investing heavily in the existing structure. Commissioners discussed a recent reassessment of the building: the city manager and others noted that only about 14,000 square feet of usable first-floor space is practical for NEXT at present, significantly short of the 75% (roughly 33,000 sq ft) referenced in the original MOU.
Chris Braun, director of NEXT, told the commission NEXT prefers to occupy first-floor space now and that the organization can revisit other uses of the remainder as a later phase. Braun also told the commission NEXT holds an endowment of about $3,200,000 and said NEXT expects to cover operating expenses for the space it occupies.
Commissioner Law moved the resolution "in support of the city manager's actions to continue to proceed under the terms of the memorandum of understanding between the city and NEXT in May 2023 to make renovations, upgrades, and cosmetic improvements to the existing building at 400 East Lincoln in support of NEXT moving into the building in May 2027." The motion was seconded and passed on roll call; commissioners recorded votes individually during the meeting.
What's next: staff will execute the under-$75,000 architect contract, produce drawings focused on the first floor and ADA/accessibility upgrades, and bring a draft lease and project cost estimates back to the commission for approval before construction funds are spent.
