City moves forward with Patchwork Farms development

Less than one year after the planning charette he helped organize, City Manager Jeff Downes has delivered what he considers to be a big economic development win for Vestavia Hills.

“During the charette, we established a vision for what Patchwork Farms could, and should, become,” said Downes. “Fast-forward to the fourth quarter of 2014, and it’s very likely that the vision laid out from the charette will indeed be achieved.”

That vision includes three approved agreements, according to a press release issued by Downes’ office 48 hours after the August 25 City Council real estate agreement approval action. The agreements are as follows:

Strategic exchange of property between the city and Northport Holding (NHS). The city will exchange part of its acreage (under contract from the Vestavia Hills Board of Education) with NHS to relocate and redesign the planned rehabilitation facility within the development. The exchange is estimated to cost the city $1.5 million, attributed to redesign and construction expenses. At a simultaneous close, the city also will purchase the school property for $3.4 million.

Sale of property, at $2.2 million, to Resort Lifestyle Communities (Cameron Development). The project will be upscale senior living to be situated on property under contract from the Vestavia Hills Board of Education.

Daniel Corporation to purchase, for $4.3 million, the remaining 14 acres of undeveloped Patchwork Farms property. Daniel Corporation will assume responsibility for furthering the mixed-use village development plan. 

The remainder of 2014 will be spent in due diligence (rezoning, geotechnical engineering work, etc.), with final sale of the above agreements expected to close prior to December 31, with construction anticipated in early 2015.

“Through all of this, Patchwork Farms took another giant leap forward,” said Downes. “As a result, Vestavians can look forward to a thoughtfully, consistently designed mixed-use business district.”

Downes said the projected fiscal benefits of the project, including sale of the property, sales tax, property tax and other related fees, including building permits, amount to $23 million, benefiting both the city and the Board of Education over the next five years. 

“If you look at the payback period for the investment the city has, in being able to relocate Northport, and the investment and cost of purchasing school board property, including infrastructure improvements, that is at a cost of just over $6 million,” said Downes. “Our payback period is less than a year.”

While Downes and others are focused on Patchwork Farms and other key areas ripe for economic development, they also are investing resources in bolstering the city’s brand and image.

Earlier this year, Downes signed a $200,000 contract with Tatum Design (principal, Travis Tatum) for branding work.

“This is part of our economic development strategy,” said Downes. “You’ve got to focus on retaining business as well as creating business.”

“The city is 64 years old,” said Tatum, whose wife and business partner, Wendy Patterson Tatum, is a native of the area. “The time is long overdue to communicate to the kinds of businesses we want to attract about what life is like here. As the city is working hard to make inroads with site selectors and others, we are working hand in hand with them to develop and execute a comprehensive brand strategy that epitomizes what this city stands for — prosperity, unity and family.”