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Baldwin Alliance to cover $90,000 design cost for HATCH courtyard at historic K‑1 Center
Summary
The Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance told Fairhope City Council it will fund $90,000 for design of a phased courtyard at the K‑1/HATCH facility; the group plans phased construction and will work with Thompson Watermark on hard design and bids.
Fairhope — The Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance will pay $90,000 for design of a conceptual courtyard at the HATCH (K‑1 Center) campus, Alliance and design‑team representatives told the Fairhope City Council on Feb. 19.
Richard Johnson described the Alliance’s planned capital investment on city property that sits within the lease area for the incubator facility. Lee Lawson and representatives from Thompson Watermark presented a conceptual rendering for a courtyard occupying the footprint of the former gymnasium. Lawson said the Alliance will cover design costs for all phases and pursue bid documents and phased construction, with the goal of delivering at least a Phase 1 courtyard element timed to the broader facility completion currently forecast for early fall.
The project team described a phased approach to limit upfront city expense: the Alliance will cover design and initial fit‑out items; construction funding will be sought after design through grants and partner contributions. Lawson said the Alliance anticipates covering design fully and then working with the city on construction timing and funding. The team emphasized the courtyard’s value to incubator tenants and for special events, and noted partnerships with the University of South Alabama and local entrepreneurial programs.
Next steps: With council input the Alliance will engage Thompson Watermark for hard design and produce bid documents; staff will return to council with any required approvals tied to lease‑area improvements.
