A mixed-use development on the former site of the Southtown Court public housing community is moving forward after the signing of a ground lease.
That means construction will move forward on the property between 24th Street and the Red Mountain Expressway.
The Housing Authority of the Birmingham District will own the property, while private developers will develop the property, called Edgehill at Southtown Court.
“Our vision is to build on current assets in the community, including key medical and research institutions,” said Robert Simon, CEO of Corporate Realty, which is one of the companies that make up Southside Development. “The lease is the first step in bringing to life a vibrant, multi-dimensional community that not only offers inclusive housing but also includes places to work, shop, eat, relax and play.”
The first commercial building is expected to be 150,000 square feet at the corner of University Boulevard and 24th Street that will house an incubator for biotech businesses, part of what is being called the Birmingham Biomedical Innovation Corridor. The site is expected to eventually be home to about 800,000 square feet of commercial space for the biomedical industry, as well as 50,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, a hotel and apartment units.
There are two housing complexes under construction in the area that will serve many of the residents who lived in Southtown Court.
