Screen Shot 2019 10 07 at 1.50.47 PM Housing Authority shares Southtown Court redevelopment update — *Gensler’s conceptual rendering of the Southtown redevelopment. Photo via Gensler’s website*

Birmingham’s Southtown Court project—a redevelopment of the estimated 26 million-dollar property in Southside—continues to move forward. The Housing Authority of the Birmingham District (HABD) shared an updated timeline with residents of the housing community on January 7. Here’s what we know.

The Plans

Screen Shot 2019 10 07 at 1.50.30 PM Housing Authority shares Southtown Court redevelopment update — *Gensler’s conceptual rendering of the Southtown redevelopment. Photo via Gensler’s website*

Bham Now shared the redevelopment plans a few months back. The project consists of:

A mixed-use district with 459 housing units. 200 of these units would be for public housing
850,000 square feet of office and commercial space
Neighborhood businesses including a grocery store and a junior big box retailer
3.5 acres of green space

Southtown Rendering Housing Authority shares Southtown Court redevelopment update — *Gensler’s conceptual rendering of the Southtown redevelopment. Photo via Gensler’s website*

According to Gensler’s website, “the Southtown Redevelopment Master Plan will serve as a catalyst for the city of Birmingham and will have a direct impact on the city’s emerging central business district.”

The Timeline

Southtown 5 Housing Authority shares Southtown Court redevelopment update — *Southtown Court in Southside. Photo via Pat Byington for Bham Now*

According to the HABD’s Facebook page, the redevelopment timeline is as follows:

Resident assessments will begin in January 2020. These assessments include one-on-one meetings with HABD coordinators.
Residents will move in the summer of 2020 based on family preferences.
Phase 1 of construction includes replacement housing and will begin in 2021.
Phase 2 of construction includes office, retail and hotel space.
Phase 3 of construction includes other commercial construction.

What are the residents’ options?

southtown residents Housing Authority shares Southtown Court redevelopment update — *Southtown Court Town Hall Meeting. Photo courtesy of the* *Grassroots Coalition of Birmingham*

A big question has been what will happen to the more than 1,000 residents currently living at Southtown Court. Birmingham attorney Richard Rice is continuing to meet with stakeholders about a Community Benefits Agreement which would address residents’ relocation concerns.

According to the HABD, residents will have the option to: