Homewood to consider entertainment districts in August

Homewood
Homewood City Hall. Photo via city of Homewood government Facebook page

Continuing a region-wide trend, the city of Homewood will consider establishing designated entertainment districts this month.

The development of one or more entertainment districts was proposed during a meeting of the City Council’s Public Safety Committee earlier this week by councilor Jennifer Andress.

How Entertainment Districts Work

Birmingham, SoHo Square, Homewood
SoHo Square in Homewood, AL.

An entertainment district is a designated area for businesses with alcohol licenses to allow drinks to be taken off premises within the district’s boundaries and during certain hours.

An Opportunity

Homewood Alabama
Ward 5 Homewood City Council member Jennifer Andress – Photo by Pat Byington

In a statement to Bham Now, Homewood City Councilor Jennifer Andress told us why the proposed ordinance makes sense and is a great opportunity.

“During the pandemic, the plaza at City Hall became a place that people came to, to sit outside, spread out, watch their kids play and enjoy food and beverages. After speaking with our restaurant owners as well as surrounding municipalities who have passed similar ordinances and local acts, we are pursuing an entertainment district designation. This will allow our citizens to purchase an adult beverage from our restaurants with an ABC license, and carry an open container as they stroll through downtown window shopping and enjoying all our downtown has to offer. We are also looking at Edgewood and West Homewood for future designations.” 

A Trend

Entertainment Districts
On June 22, 2020, Avondale became Birmingham’s 4th designated entertainment district. Photo by Pat Byington for Bham Now

Entertainment Districts have become very popular in Birmingham and surrounding suburban communities.

The city of Birmingham has four entertainment districts at: 

In 2020, Hoover, Trussville, Vestavia and Helena all approved new entertainment districts. 

In early 2021, the Alabama Legislature approved HB 479 enabling the city of Mountain Brook to establish three entertainment districts.  

Additional legislation was proposed by State Senator Rodger Smitherman to add up to 15 entertainment districts with the Birmingham city limits.

Next up

The Homewood City Council will consider the entertainment district proposal in the month of August, according to Andress.

Will Homewood be the next city to add Entertainment Districts? Tag us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Pat Byington
Pat Byington

Longtime conservationist. Former Executive Director at the Alabama Environmental Council and Wild South. Publisher of the Bama Environmental News for more than 18 years. Career highlights include playing an active role in the creation of Alabama's Forever Wild program, Little River Canyon National Preserve, Dugger Mountain Wilderness, preservation of special places throughout the East through the Wilderness Society and the strengthening (making more stringent) the state of Alabama's cancer risk and mercury standards.

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