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The Birmingham City Council on Tuesday approved a rezoning request from a firm hoping to build a boutique hotel and condominium development on 22nd Street South near Red Mountain Expressway. The decision came despite unanimous opposition from two neighborhood associations adjacent to the project.
Arlington Redevelopment wants to put the hotel, which it calls The Tramont, at an undeveloped lot at 1240 22nd Street South. The zoning change is needed to allow for the height of the planned building. Its current zoning designation limits buildings to 65 feet tall, while the firm wants to make its structure 125 feet.
“We’ve taken great care to listen to your residents and to listen to the city planners and our desire is to build a project, architecturally I describe it as ‘understated elegance.’ There is nothing here like it,” said David Silverstein with FiveStone Group, who has been involved with developments such as The Summit and The Pizitz.
The developers plan for the Tramont to have 80 rooms and an additional 15 condominiums.
A 20-year economic outlook estimates the project could generate roughly $78 million in property and lodging taxes, according to city officials.
Councilor Josh Vasa, whose district covers the lot in question, said the city’s zoning adjustment committee voted 3-1 against the change allowing the project. That’s in addition to the unanimous votes opposing the project from the Highland Park and Redmont Park neighborhood associations.
Silverstein said his firm delayed the project after feedback from neighborhood residents, who told him they would approve of the project if it was given a variance for 115 feet, rather than the firm requesting a zoning change that would allow for 125-foot buildings.
Before the vote Tuesday the council held a public hearing on the measure.
Of the 13 people who spoke during the hearing, 11 opposed the zoning change.
Redmont Park resident Cathy Adams said the local residents are not opposed to the project, simply the planned height, which goes against the zoning standards developed under the city’s Southern Area Framework Plan.
“‘We are just asking him to develop it within the boundaries — to play by the rules that we all have to,” she said.
The residents speaking in opposition included former City Councilor Valerie Abbott.
“I just ask you to have respect for the residents who have been involved with all these framework plans and attended all the meetings so that there would be a framework for development in their neighborhoods and all of your neighborhoods,” she said.
Silverstein said the plans for the Tramont are in keeping with structures in the area and without the height of 115 feet would not be economically viable.
“The overall project loses its substance without this,” he said.
Vasa offered a compromise of 85 feet, but the motion did not receive a second.
The council voted 7-2 to approve the zoning change allowing the 125-foot height. Vasa and Councilor Crystal Smitherman were the two no votes.
Councilor Darrell O’Quinn said the Tramont will provide jobs and amenities not currently available in the city, which were good reasons to support the project.
In other business, the council approved:
- Two items related to athletic court upgrades at 20 existing elementary and middle school athletic courts and the construction of new courts at 14 elementary and middle schools. This project is part of the $45 million package that was approved by the Council earlier this month for capital improvements at Birmingham City Schools, which is funded by a dedicated portion of Jefferson County ad valorem taxes.
- Three projects funded through the American Rescue Plan Act for infrastructure improvements in District 3. They included $299,174 for Clairmont Connector Trails; $100,000 for Caldwell Park–26th Street South Drainage Improvements; and $265,000 for bus rapid transit and District 3 sidewalk Improvements.
