Stivers Ford to build auto showcase on the site of the abandoned Virginia College at the Palisades
Reading time: 2 minutes
Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin and Eddie Stivers III, President of Stivers Ford of Birmingham, appeared together today in front of the abandoned Virginia College building at the Palisades Mall to announce the $23 million redevelopment of the property.
In October 2020, without much fanfare, Stivers Ford purchased the assets of Adamson Ford and was awarded the Ford franchise rights for the Birmingham area.
Stivers Ford made it clear they were outgrowing the historic Adamson downtown Birmingham location, but were seeking to relocate within the Birmingham city limits. Fortunately, the Virginia College property was available.
Should be Celebrated
“We stand before you at a building that was vacant for many years, and now will house 80 plus jobs. We’re excited about that,and it should be celebrated,” declared Cornell Wesley, Director, Department of Innovation and Economic Opportunity, who introduced the Woodfin and Stivers.
What’s next for the current Virginia College site?
Here are the details, according to the city:
- The current Virginia College structure will be demolished
- The parking facility will remain
- Stivers will build a 80,000 to 85,000 square foot ground level Ford Trustmark facility with an additional 10,000 to 15,000 square foot second level
- Total capital investment will range from $23 million to $25 million
- The development will create 80 new jobs and employ a total of 150
The new Stivers Ford location will also include the southeast’s first stand-alone Bronco showroom.
“I want to thank Eddie Stivers for his vision and commitment to help in building Birmingham’s economy,” Mayor Woodfin said at the morning news conference. “When I consider the economic growth that will be generated at the Palisades location, I see how it will help the entire city. Developments like this enhance our revenue base in order to support all of our neighborhoods.”
After the event, Stivers and his staff gave Mayor Woodfin and Wesley a special look at the latest version of the Bronco.
New Stivers Ford
The construction will start as early as the end of 2021. The construction process should take 14 to 16 months.
