Authority strives to modernize public housing with $30M Cooper Green Homes renovation project

After beginning over a year ago in January 2025, the Housing Authority of the Birmingham District (HABD) has completed the first two phases of its Cooper Green renovation project.

Cooper Green Homes is a multifamily rental housing community that was originally constructed more than five decades ago in 1971. It includes 46 two-story buildings with 227 apartments, a community center, management office, daycare center and several playgrounds.

Apartments are reserved for residents who earn 60% of the area median household income or less, which currently comes in around $46,000 for the city of Birmingham, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HABD provides rental assistance to those who need it.

Renovations of the Cooper Green Homes are part of a wider strategic effort called Thrive 2035 that aims to modernize the city’s legacy public housing.

Big improvements completed + more to come

The project, which is a partnership between HABD and Paces Preservation Partners, provides long-overdue updates to the property and has already completed renovations on 118 units to ensure they have the “most modern, latest technology, construction manager James Hawkins said.

These repairs, upgrades and updates have involved:

• New roofs
• Gutters
• Energy-efficient windows + siding
• Attic insulation
• Brick repairs
• New appliances, cabinets + countertops
• Plumbing
• Light fixtures
• Flooring
• HVAC systems
• Water heaters

The project is currently on-schedule, HABD President and CEO Dontrelle Young Foster said, and is now moving on to Phase III.

“When our residents have access to quality living, it strengthens neighborhood stability, supports long-term sustainability and gives families the platform they need to succeed, so this work is essential to building a stronger future for our residents.”

HABD President and CEO Dontrelle Young Foster

For the final phases, updates will involve more of the communal spaces, including:

• Updates to the playground areas, including splash pads
• New community amenities like dog parks and pavilion/seating areas
• The addition of a protective concrete buffer wall between Cooper Green and the neighboring railway and fuel facility
• Enhanced lighting across property to improve safety and comfort at night

While the structural upgrades provide much-needed stability, the upcoming additions are designed to turn the housing complex into a true neighborhood where residents can thrive.

The renovation of the 118 units marks the midpoint of a larger strategic effort to reposition Birmingham’s legacy housing properties. According to HABD leadership, the project’s focus on energy efficiency and modern design is intended to provide long-term stability for residents while meeting the city’s growing demand for subsidized rental options.

The full renovation of all 227 units is slated for completion in early 2027.

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