Publix-anchored shopping center celebrates groundbreaking

The city of Vestavia is one step closer to a Patchwork Farms shopping center.

Blackwater Resources celebrated breaking ground on the 120,000-square-foot during an official ceremony on Feb. 8 at the site, across from Lifetime Fitness on Healthy Way.

“We’re so thankful to be part of the Patchwork Farms development,” said Blackwater Resources senior developer Rich Wingo. “What a tremendous opportunity to be here in Vestavia, so I want to thank y’all.”

Wingo said they plan to create a village feel at the shopping center and hope it becomes a community hub. The shopping center will be anchored by a 45,600-square-foot Publix and includes 36,000 square feet of retail, restaurant and office space as well as four freestanding outparcel sites.

Wingo thanked the city for their partnership. Vestavia City Council member Steve Ammons said the council was looking forward to having the shopping center in Vestavia Hills. City manager Jeff Downes said the Patchwork Farms development coming together was like bringing together a jigsaw puzzle.

“What is happening today would not have taken place had there not been great planning and the ability to move some of the major pieces of this development around,” Downes said.

Miller Terry, senior leasing representative for Blackwater Resources, said the Vestavia Hills market is one leasing agents want to be part of, noting its population, median household income and combination of office space and residential areas.

“Now I could talk for days or I could just tell you to turn and do a 360,” Terry said, gesturing to the new apartment developments right around the Patchwork Farms shopping center.

He said in a few weeks, he hopes to share more information on restaurants that will be in the shopping center. He said he has talked with restaurants that will be new to both the Birmingham area and the state of Alabama.

“We knew that it [Patchwork Farms] was going to be special some time,” Downes said. “We didn’t realize how quickly this was going to happen.”