By Sam Prickett
The Birmingham City Council on Monday delayed voting on an item granting funding to the Five Points West/CrossPlex Business Alliance under the city’s Building Opportunities for Lasting Development (BOLD) initiative.
The grant, proposed by Mayor Randall Woodfin’s office, would give the Five Points West/CrossPlex Business Alliance $26,500 to use for a variety of initiatives, including the creation of five new murals, the development of a training and resource program for the area’s business community, the establishment of a business office for the alliance, and the collection of data regarding businesses and commercial properties in the Five Points West commercial corridor.
Sam Prickett, BirminghamWatch
Birmingham City Councilor Steven Hoyt
The two-week delay was called for by District 8 Councilor Steven Hoyt, who represents the area.
“My office is in a fact-finding mode, and we just need to finish,” he said. “The holiday caught us, and I think if we had a two-week delay, that would help us to finish contacting all the businesspersons over there.”
The council voted unanimously for the delay.
Hoyt has been a vocal critic of Woodfin’s BOLD program since its beginning, arguing that the organizations receiving funding — including REV Birmingham, the Birmingham Business Alliance and the Jones Valley Urban Farm — do not work enough with communities in western Birmingham.
The item regarding funding for the Five Points West/CrossPlex Business Alliance will come before the council again on Jan. 14.
The council also voted to set a public hearing for Jan. 28 regarding the rezoning of property surrounding the former Carraway Hospital to allow for mixed-use development. The hospital, located at 1600 Carraway Boulevard, closed in 2008 and has been abandoned ever since. Earlier this year, Corporate Realty announced plans to transform the hospital into a development including retail, entertainment, hotel, residential and office space. Several properties along 15th Avenue North and Walnut Hill Circle will be considered for rezoning after the hearing.