Reviewed by: Nathan Watson
15 new Birmingham developments we’re keeping an eye on in 2026
Reading time: 7 minutes
Birmingham is called The Magic City for a reason. In 2025 alone, 90+ businesses and developments were opened or completed.
What’s next for 2026? Below is a list of 15 new developments we can’t wait to see.
1. West Rock Mountain Nature Preserve in Hueytown
will have 32,468 linear feet of hiking and biking trails. (City of Hueytown)
The city of Hueytown is going to open up a 400+ acre nature preserve in the first quarter of 2026.
Called the West Rock Mountain Nature Preserve, the highly anticipated green space has been years in the making.
Located in the heart of West Jefferson County, the nature preserve will have:
- 400 acres of publicly accessible land
- 32,468 linear feet of hiking and biking trails
- A mountaintop path with panoramic views
2. McWane Economic Education Center | Junior Achievement of Alabama
Located on the corner of 23rd St. N and 6th Ave. N. in downtown Birmingham, the new McWane Economic Education Center, a facility for Junior Achievement of Alabama, is expected to open before the 2026-27 school year.
The new space will house two JA Capstone programs, which combine classroom curriculum with a hands-on, day-long experiential site visit in JA’s unique learning lab.
- JA Biztown — An unmatched learning experience where sixth-grade students interact within a simulated economy and take on the role of employee, taxpayer and consumer.
- JA Finance Park — An immersive program where eighth graders create and maintain a household budget. Students have the rare opportunity to experience their personal financial futures today.
3. The Yeilding
The Yeilding is an ongoing redevelopment of the historic Yeilding Building, a former department store at 2129 2nd Avenue N, near popular spots like The Collins Bar, Canary Gallery, The House of Found Objects.
The redevelopment is dubbed The Yeilding and expected to open in 2026. The project will include:
- A mix of 42 studio- and one-bedroom residential units ranging from 400-700 square feet with 15′ ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows and Class-A finishes.
- A variety of amenities, including a rooftop terrace with an outdoor kitchen, fire pit, a resident lounge, fitness center, in-unit smart home packages and more.
- Between 6,000-12,000 square feet of commercial space.
4. East Side Park
Jefferson County Greenways is transforming East Side Park into a first-of-its-kind, fully accessible nature space.
The effort aims to revive the once-underused 6.5-acre park by adding:
- Accessible trails
- Inclusive facilities
- Sensory experiences
- Educational programming
The park is located at 621 Dogwood Drive near Ruffner Mountain.
5. UAB Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research and Psychology Building
Located on University Boulevard, the Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research and Psychology Building is an eight-story, $190 million facility for the Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine and College of Arts and Sciences that will include wet and dry research laboratories and research support spaces.
The building is made possible by $152 million in federal funding; it is currently set for a late 2026/first quarter 2027 opening.
6. Andrews Sports Medicine coming to Homewood
Last month, the Homewood City Council approved plans to redevelop a portion of the former Brookwood Village into a new health facility for Andrews Sports Medicine.
The unanimous vote by the Council paves the way for a $110 million two-story center that will include:
- 55,000-square foot clinic
- 65,000-square foot ambulatory orthopedic surgery center
The redevelopment plan also includes improvements for parking.
7. Vestavia Hills pedestrian bridge over Hwy 31
The much-anticipated pedestrian bridge linking Wald Park and the Vestavia Public Library is opening in 2026.
Here are the numbers about the bridge:
- Length: 143 feet long or about half a football field
- Elevator/Stair towers
- About 300-feet of sidewalk will be removed and reconstructed on the East side
- About 280-feet of new sidewalk will be built on the west side
8. Family Fun Center at Crossplex
In October 2025, city officials and community leaders met in Five Points West to break ground on the Family Fun Center, an exciting $15M addition to the Birmingham CrossPlex campus.
Construction on the new facility began in November, with an estimated build time of 18 months.
9. KultureCity National Accessibility Park
Formerly the Powell Steam Plant, Local nonprofit KultureCity is redeveloping the historic Powell Steam Plant into the KultureCity National Accessibility Park, a national model for accessibility, workforce development and economic growth.
The park will have the following elements:
- A technical college and workforce training center
- Real-world job training through retail and culinary spaces
- A museum and navigation center focused on accessibility and inclusion
- An inclusive outdoor amphitheater and public gathering space
The $60 million project will be completed in 2028
10. UAB Bartow Arena upgrade
Renovations on the 8,508-seat multi-purpose Bartow Arena located between 6th and 7th Avenue South and 13th and 14th Streets will include:
- Entrance lobby expansion
- Club-level lounge and club-level seating for an enhanced viewing experience
- Replacement of some lower bowl seating to elevate fan experience
- Concourse improvements including lighting and updated restrooms
Bartow Arena is home to the UAB men’s and women’s basketball programs and women’s volleyball program. Work on the facility begins after the 2026 commencement ceremonies.
11. UAB Emergency Department expansion
UAB’s Emergency Department is adding 66,000 square feet of clinical space and 59 exam rooms. The $73 million project is anticipated to finish in summer 2027.
12. Brown Marx Tower
Two new hotels are expected to be opened this year at the Brown Marx Tower, located at the intersection of 20th Street North and 1st Avenue North dubbed the Heaviest Corner on Earth.
Ascent Hospitality is redeveloping the 117-year-old tower as a dual-branded AC & Element hotel, with a total of 338 rooms for travelers.
- The AC Hotel portion will feature 190 rooms and will be geared toward business-oriented guests.
- The Element Hotel portion will feature 148 rooms and will be designed for short- and long-term stays.
In August 2025, the Birmingham Design Review Committee approved hotel signage for the historic building.
13. El Tigre at Brown Marx Annex
The Brown Marx Annex—located at 2012 1st Avenue N. and constructed in 1909—will be the new home for El Tigre, a new concept from James Beard-nominated Jesus Mendez. Jesus announced the project on social media, sharing a photo of the storefront and stating it will be the “future home of @el_tigrebham”
14. Coca-Cola UNITED Headquarters
Even though it is slated to open in 2027, we love seeing the new $330 million Coca-Cola UNITED headquarters start rising off of I-20/59 on the former Stockham Valves and Fittings site (4100 Richard Arrington Jr Blvd N).
Once complete, the facility will house Coca-Cola UNITED’s:
- Corporate, Central Region and North Alabama Division headquarters
- Birmingham Coca-Cola sales center and warehouse
- Classic Food and Vending arm
- Customer solutions center and services department
15. Star Uptown
Construction on the much-anticipated Star Uptown development is set to begin in early 2026, bringing new cottages and townhomes to the former Carraway Hospital property by early 2027.
The first phase of the development will bring a total of 64 new one-, two- and three-bedroom cottages and townhomes along a stretch of property facing Carraway Boulevard north of 17th Avenue, as well as a clubhouse to serve the community.
