4 things to know about Birmingham’s Airport Hills community

The Airport Hills is a heavily residential area that’s home to over 5,000 people. For all you aviation fans, this community has great, unobstructed views of Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport’s runways. Thanks to the city’s BIG Partnership initiative centered around the airport, Airport Hills is going to see major growth in the near future.

1—Where is Airport Hills?

Airport Hills borders the Birmingham- Shuttlesworth International Airport —hence the name. Nestled between Roebuck and East Lake, this community consists of five of Birmingham’s 99 neighborhoods:

• Airport Highlands
• Brownsville Heights
• Brumitt Heights
• Maple Grove
• Penfield Park

2—A Little Bit About Airport Hills

The Airport Hills community is surrounded by rolling hills and heavily residential. It’s quite surreal driving through the Airport Highlands neighborhood as much of it consists of wide-open land with great views of the airport and city.

✈️ Pro tip: East Lake Boulevard in the Airport Highlands neighborhood is the perfect place to watch planes land and take off!

3—Airport Hills is in one of Birmingham’s Opportunity Zone

The southern area of the Airport Highlands neighborhood is part of the Birmingham Shuttlesworth International Airport Opportunity Zone. An Opportunity Zone is an area nominated by the governor and certified by the U.S. Department of Treasury in which investors can invest capital gains and receive tax preferential treatment. This initiative is part of the Birmingham Inclusive Growth (BIG) Partnership that aims to improve residents’ lives while attracting investors.

What does this mean for the Airport Highlands neighborhood? Economic growth through commercial and industrial development.

City leaders plan to redevelop over 765 acres of land around the airport. By doing this, investments are able to flow into the communities surrounding the airport.

4—Community Initiatives and Involvement

Brownsville Heights Community Center

The Brownsville Heights neighborhood welcomed a new community center in 2012. It contains meeting space, activity rooms and a media room. There’s also a walking trail outside of the facility and a playground that I’d probably even enjoy.

The community center is open to all Airport Hills residents with an emphasis on programs for children and senior citizens. The neighborhood association also meets at this central location to focus on issues in the community.

Summer Youth Work Program

The Birmingham Airport Authority supports the Airport Hills community by hosting its Summer Youth Work Program. The program allows students who live in the communities around the airport to gain hands-on work experience. Students learn the importance of:

• Teamwork
• Money Management
• Community Service
• Professional Skills

Applications for the program are available in March. If you’re an Airport Hills resident and would like to get involved, keep an eye out for the Summer Youth Work Program application.

Where Can I Read About the Other Neighborhoods?

This article is the 16th installment in a 23-part series Bham Now is doing to feature Birmingham’s 23 communities, comprising 99 neighborhoods. So far, we’ve featured the following communities:

• Crestwood
• Northside
• Red Mountain
• Roebuck/ South East Lake
• North Birmingham
• Cahaba
• Woodlawn
• Crestline
• Southside
• Ensley
• East Lake
• Titusville
• East Pinson Valley
• Five Points West
• West End

Now we want to hear from you, Birmingham. What’s your fave spot in Airport Hills? Let us know on social @BhamNow.