New Central Park Playground
Oh no, are we losing our beloved caterpillar? That seems to be on most people's minds as they learn about the new construction planned at the Central Park playground. Whether you have climbed it... or have fallen off of it, we all have wonderful memories of the caterpillar. Rest assured it won't be going away, but it will be used in a slightly different setting.
The City of Homewood approved close to $1 million dollars in this years budget to remove the old equipment and mulch to make way for a new overall play area. New equipment to be added will be a Ninja course that is meant to have kids and parents enjoying together, swing sets, play structures for all ages that are ADA compliant, a gaga pit, and other types of equipment, all providing much needed shade!
One of the biggest changes will be the surface the kids play on. It is what is called "playground grass" that is ADA compliant, accessible to wheelchairs and crutches. It is a more consistently safe and durable surface with antimicrobial properties to inhibit the growth of bacteria on the turf. It contains XStatic™ antistatic technology built into the blades which removes the chance of static shock.
When it comes to accessing the area, left in place will be the familiar pillars around the edge. The change will be one small opening, instead of a gate, that flows into the park itself.
When will it be closed?
Construction begins as early as
Tuesday, January 15th. Once demolition work begins the playground area will be closed to the public until it is finished. Depending on weather, it is slated to be complete by mid-March.
The rest of the park will remain open.
And so what about the caterpillar? Unfortunately, it is not compliant with current playground codes that the city must abide by. As this is an iconic part of our community, we have no plans of it being discarded. It will be repurposed as something visible in the park. The decision as to what that exactly may be hasn't been decided yet, but we will update everyone once that plan is in place.
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Finance Highlights April 21, 2025 The following items will be considered by the full Council on April 28, 2025, at 6:00pm: 01.04.25 – Request to accept the quote to add Tyler Payments to the existing agreement with Tyler Enterprise Permitting and Licensing – Wyatt Pugh, Building Official 02.04.25 – Request for consideration of mid-year budget review – Councilor Barry Smith 03.04.25 – Request for consideration to pay two past due invoices (2023 & 2024) for Big Sky Environmental – Berkley Squires, Public Services 04.04.25 – Request for permission for the City Manager to execute contracts for Oxmoor Road Diet construction – Cale Smith, PE 05.04.25 – Request for consideration for Council to appoint a temporary judge – J.J. Bischoff, Chief of Staff / Laura Roberts, Court Administrator 06.04.25 – Request for consideration of budget amendment for line item transfer – Chief Broadhead, Fire Chief 07.04.25 – Request for consideration to add a streetlight at 1455 Overlook Road – Randy Hambley, Traffic Department / Councilor Smith 21.04.25 – Request to upgrade the position of Revenue Examiner (18) to Senior Revenue Examiner (21) – Bo Seagrist, City Clerk Agenda: https://bit.ly/42muJOg Upcoming meeting schedules: https://bit.ly/3bvufcT Archived meetings: http://bit.ly/2UiSIaA Watch the full video above to learn more about all the items presented.
Heads up, Homewood! Starting Monday, April 21 , parts of surface parking above the city hall parking deck will close for about three months due to scheduled maintenance. The northern section highlighted will be closed for the first six weeks, followed by the southern section for the next six. However, be prepared for possible closures throughout the entire area at any time during the project. The city is working on the weather seal membrane beneath the lot behind SoHo and City Hall—a necessary part of routine upkeep. Unfortunately, this means much of the parking near Ashley Mac’s and City Hall will be unavailable during the project. The pedestrian walkway from the deck to the plaza will stay accessible. Be sure to plan ahead and allow extra time when visiting the area!
The diverging diamond would have drivers temporarily cross to opposite lanes in order to keep traffic at the interchange flowing more smoothly. Design courtesy of Volkert Engineers
Council Meeting Highlights, April 14, 2025 17.03.25 Council approved a request to de-annex 310 Happy Lane from the City of Homewood. A property owner who bought land 23 years ago to develop it into townhomes needs fire access. After failing to get necessary easements and facing road access issues, he asked to de-annex the land from Homewood and return it to Jefferson County to build a single-family home with county fire protection. With no current development plans, he hopes the land may be redeveloped in the future. 16.03.25 Council approved a request for consideration for an ordinance to prohibit parking on the west side of Mamie Foster 18th Place between 28th Ave and 27th Ave. This is to be sure there is space for emergency vehicles to travel that road without being blocked by parked cars. 20.04.25 Council approved a new agreement with ALDOT to move forward with long-discussed improvements to the I-65/Lakeshore Parkway interchange. The project, featuring a Diverging Diamond design, aims to ease traffic congestion that has plagued the area for decades. While council members expressed strong support, some raised concerns about cost overruns beyond the $23 million cap, especially since the city would bear all extra expenses. They agreed to monitor the bid, expected in July, and possibly set a ceiling for acceptable overages. This resolution marks a major step toward modernizing the interchange. Agenda: https://bit.ly/4lrK2Nb Upcoming meeting schedules: https://bit.ly/3bvufcT Archived meetings: http://bit.ly/2UiSIaA For all the details about this meeting watch the video above.
Walking the Walk: The City’s Ground Game for Better Sidewalks The City of Homewood is committed to maintaining safe, walkable neighborhoods—and our sidewalks play a vital role in that effort. With an annual investment of $75k-$100k, the Public Works Department is working diligently to ensure sidewalks across the city are in great condition and accessible for all residents. And we’re not only fixing what’s already there—we’re also looking ahead. The city has a “Complete Streets” committee working on filling in the gaps where sidewalks are missing.
There are a lot of events happening around our city over the next week, ways to get involved, and ways to give back to our community:
Finance Highlights April 7, 2025 14.03.25 Committee approved a request to fund change order for the City Hall and parking garage restoration project. This item will now go before the full council for a vote at the next council meeting April 14, 2025 at 6:00pm. 24.03.25 Committee carried over a property issue at 1832 25th Court South, where a house was found to be built, in the 1920's, 11 feet into city-owned land. This discovery came during a survey done as part of a sale process. Officials debated possible solutions, including an easement or selling part of the land, but there was concern about setting a precedent with any snap decision. Some emphasized the city’s limited land and the risk of similar issues emerging elsewhere. The mayor and others agreed no decision should be made until a proper survey defines property lines clearly, making that the next necessary step. Agenda: https://bit.ly/4j2rMIA Upcoming meeting schedules: https://bit.ly/3bvufcT Archived meetings: http://bit.ly/2UiSIaA Watch the full video above to learn more about all the items presented.
Board of Zoning Adjustments (BZA) Highlights April 3, 2025 SV-25-04-01: 857 Sylvia Drive, a request for a variance to reduce the required side setback along the left-side property line from 10-feet to 8.1-feet for a total reduction of 1.9-feet to construct a second story addition to an existing, nonconforming primary structure. This item was approved. SV-25-04-02: 2919 Parkridge Drive, (a) was a request for a variance to reduce the required side setback from 10-feet to 7.9-feet for a total reduction of 2.1-feet to construct an addition to the rear of the existing primary structure. This part of this item was approved. (b) A request for a variance in order to reduce the setback along the left-side property line from 5-feet to 2-feet, for a total reduction of 3-feet in order to construct an open deck. This part of this item was denied. SV-25-04-03: 105 Knoll Crest Drive, a request for a variance to reduce the required setback along the right-side property line from 10-feet to 9.6-feet for a total reduction of 0.4- feet in order to construct a rear addition to the existing, nonconforming primary structure. This item was approved. Agenda: https://bit.ly/4iVHogL Upcoming meeting schedules: https://bit.ly/3bvufcT Archived meetings: http://bit.ly/2UiSIaA For all the details about this meeting watch the video above.
The proposed Creekside development, located south of Lakeshore Drive near Samford University’s campus, took a step forward at the April 1 Planning Commission meeting. The project, designed to create a walkable, town square-style community, received positive recommendations for rezoning. The next step will be a review by the full council. Earlier discussions about Creekside drew significant public interest, with many residents voicing concerns about the impact of the development. At a previous Planning Commission meeting, Colin Coyne, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer for Samford University, addressed these concerns directly. He acknowledged past tensions between the university and the surrounding community but assured attendees that Samford has made meaningful changes in recent years. Coyne emphasized the university’s commitment to open dialogue, stating he would meet with residents as long as needed to address their concerns. With a background in environmental management, he also underscored Samford’s responsibility to address traffic and sustainability issues, particularly related to watershed management along Shades Creek. Commission members previously advised the applicant, Landmark Development, to engage more deeply with the public before moving forward. Landmark responded by postponing the rezoning request and hosting three public meetings to gather input from residents. Among the most pressing concerns are the potential impact on salamander habitats in the area and the height of a proposed hotel, which could be as tall as 10 stories. These issues remain a focal point for local residents as the project progresses. See more information HERE
UPDATE: From Jailhouse to Steakhouse? A New Vision for an Old Space! On Monday, March 31, the city council approved a proposal for a potential high-end steakhouse surrounded by a walkable, family-friendly park, at the long-empty police HQ and jail downtown. This approval means the project can start moving forward, though rezoning, design, and development plans still need city approval. There are no incentives for this project and the developer, Mike Mouron, is covering the cost of building the park, which will stay public property. Proceeds from the sale of the space that the steakhouse would sit on would be placed in escrow to fund improvements to the city-owned space that would become the park, with the developer covering any costs beyond the escrow amount.