Photo by Jeff Thompson
Former Vestavia library
Retail use of former library building
This year, a new retailer could be coming to the former Vestavia Hills Public Library. In October, the Vestavia Hills City Council accepted an offer from Commercial Realty Partners, LLC.
“Within the first 90 days, the buyer has to be identified,” City Manager Jeff Downes said. “We have the right to approve the retailer, and 180 days is the maximum the building can be held off the market.”
The potential retailer has been evaluating the property, which is approximately 22,000 square feet and located on an estimated 1.66 acres of property owned by the City. In 2011, the building was appraised at $825,000 while the current retail offer is $750,000.
“Retail use of this building would produce sales tax dollars for the community,” Downes said. “We are continuing conversations with the potential developer of this property during the initial period of due diligence provided for in the contract.”
Patchwork Farms development
Patchwork Farms, a site of more than 80 acres near Cahaba River and Caldwell Mill roads, will be seeing development activity in the upcoming year. Northport Holdings will construct a 120-bed rehabilitation facility on the site and a 9-acre nature/pedestrian park is also in the plans.
A planning charrette was held in December to give community members a chance to voice their ideas about further developments. Design and consulting firms gave attendees illustrative views of the site’s potential, and stakeholders were invited to focused workshops. A final presentation revealed mixed-used development that should spring into action this year.
“We want to instill a vision for undeveloped properties around Lifetime Fitness,” City Manager Jeffrey Downes said. “Our goal is to bring a clear vision in focus.”
Cahaba Heights development
City Manager Jeff Downes said the City will use grant money as well as money allocated in the General Funds to improve the look and feel of Cahaba Heights during the upcoming year.
The plan is to maximize mixed-use development as well as add more sidewalks, specifically at the intersection of Dolly Ridge Road and Cahaba Heights Road, a central gateway to the community.
“The plan does address the desire for pedestrian-friendly streets,” Downes said. “There are certain segments that have great opportunity. The look and feel of these natural areas should be embraced.”
Cahaba Heights was annexed into Vestavia Hills in 2002, and in November 2008, Vestavia Hills introduced the Cahaba Heights Community Plan, a focused section of the City’s comprehensive plan that proposed improvements to the community’s entryways, transportation flow, commercial centers, community facilities and neighborhoods.
The Cahaba Heights Comm-unity Plan can be accessed at vestaviahills.net.
Park expansions
This year, the Vestavia Hills Parks and Recreation Foundation (VHPRF) is leading a campaign to expand McCallum Park with additional green space and walking trails and to open a 40-acre community park on Sicard Hollow Road.
The campaign is titled “Partners in Healthy Living” and is a collaborative effort with the Parks and Recreation Board, the City of Vestavia Hills and its citizens. This campaign recently funded the existing new athletic complex on Sicard Hollow Road.
The VHPRF made its first contribution to the City of Vestavia Hills this past fall in the amount of $220,000. This money will go directly to funding these park expansions and additions in the upcoming year.
The VHPRF is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to strengthen the local community through investments in parks and recreational activities. Visit vhprf.org for more.
Construction of new City Hall
Construction of the new City Hall at Vestavia Hills Plaza Shopping Center is set to begin this spring.
In late November, the City purchased the former Food World site at the Plaza and the former Joe’s Ranch House on Mayland Lane. These buildings will be torn down during construction of the new multistory facility, which will be approximately 50,000 to 60,000 square feet and rest on 3.6 acres of land. It will primarily include a Council Chamber that seats 120 people, a courtroom also seating 120 and departmental offices for the city, police and fire administrations, as well as the clerk, finance, public services, building safety and IT offices.
“The goal is that the new facility will serve as the home of many civic events and be a source of pride for all residents,” Mayor Butch Zaragoza said.
Williams Blackstock Arch-itects was chosen to design the facility, and B.L. Harbert will serve as construction manager.
Increased school security and funding
According to a recent update of the Vestavia Hills City Schools Strategic Plan, electronic access control is being installed inside each school. Rep. Paul DeMarco also said that a new bill this year could provide $50-100 million in bonds that school systems could apply for further security measures.
In November, PTO Council representatives from Vestavia Hills voiced concerns to state legislators at the PTO’s ninth annual Legislative Forum. The legislators overall emphasized their desire to give local school systems control and that the state is dealing with the budgetary effects of the economy since 2008. The representatives said they will take the feedback from the event with them as they enter a new legislative session on Jan. 14.
This year’s state education budget is trending up at $5.765 billion. Seventy percent of the state education budget, which is separate from the state’s general fund, is designated for K-12 education. The education budget is funded by income and sales tax, both of which have been on a positive trajectory more recently, and that should result in more funding for the education budget.
Looking ahead to the 2014-2015 school year, after two years of the state-mandated school calendar that required school start later in August than it had previously, the Vestavia Hills School System will have the freedom to choose its own calendar.
