The Birmingham City Council on Tuesday agreed to lease a former Buffalo Rock Distribution Center and use it as equipment storage for the police and fire departments.

The 109,000-square-foot facility is at 34 West Oxmoor Road, northwest of the Homewood Athletic Complex. The council voted to lease the structure from Edward B. Lumpkin Jr. of Lumpkin Development for six months at $45,000 a month. The agreement includes an option to purchase the property at any time for $7 million.

“This warehouse space is sprawling and kind of ideal for storing the equipment that is utilized by our first responders, whether it’s training equipment, vehicles, what have you. The city of Birmingham has a lot of equipment that needs to be stored and secured,” Council President Darrell O’Quinn said. “I think the option to eventually purchase the facility is something that is very much needed because our current equipment management facility is sandwiched between a road and a railroad track and there is limited space to expand operations.”

According to the company’s website, Lumpkin Development owns and manages more than 2 million square feet of commercial property in Central Alabama and Atlanta.

According to Jefferson County’s geographical information system, Lumpkin purchased the property in August 2021 for $6.3 million.

City Claims Against Kia, Hyundai Over Vehicle Security Issues

The council also Tuesday approved a resolution allowing the city attorney to pursue any claims the city might have in relation to a class-action lawsuit against Kia America Inc. and Hyundai Motor America Inc. The car manufacturers in May 2023 reached a $200 million settlement in the suit alleging defective designs made Hyundai and Kia vehicles easier to steal.

Before voting on the resolution, Councilor Valeria Abbott asked the city attorney, “Are we doing this because our police officers are having to respond to so many requests for investigations of stolen vehicles?”

“That is correct, and also that it is a public nuisance and a drain on city resources in having to respond,” attorney Nicole King told her.

The council also renewed an agreement to support Railroad Park for another four years at $900,000 a year.