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Lane Parke, sidewalk plan move forward

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Photos by Lexi Coon.

Photos by Lexi Coon.

Photos by Lexi Coon.

One year after Lane Parke officially opened, the shopping center is preparing to move into phase two.

John Evans with Evson, Inc. told council members on Oct. 9 that they have released Goodwyn, Mills & Cawood to begin work on the plans for the second phase and they are currently meeting with Village Design Review. As of earlier the same day, the detour on Lane Park Road was removed, and crews will soon be cladding — adding another material to provide weather resistance — the walls. Evans said he expects Jemison Lane to be completed by January 2018.

Regions Bank, which is building a new facility adjacent to its current building, is expected to close on Oct. 27 and relocate to the new facility on Oct. 30, and Evson said the Rite Aid in the Mountain Brook Shopping Center will be closed by June 30, 2018.

“I want plans in hand once that move takes place,” Evans said. “We should be in a position when the shoe drops to release Hoar [Construction] and start construction on the second phase.”

As Lane Parke expands, it will gain three new tenants in existing open storefronts: Swoop, which will be relocating from its current storefront in Mountain Brook Village; Tulipano, a boutique clothing store from Buckhead; and Medici, and Italian restaurant. Officials also are working on creating more parking for both shoppers and employees.

Evans said they have discussed creating additional parking in the northeastern corner of the shopping center with a one-level parking deck. The parking deck, which would create about 110 new spaces, would sit over the existing retention pond so as to not disturb flooding mitigation. “It’s kind of what was done at Whole Foods,” councilman Billy Pritchard said. Parking could also be added by temporarily paving vacant space behind the shopping center for an additional 40-60 employee spaces. 

Ultimately, Evans said he believes they will reach out to William Foster, president and CEO of the Birmingham Zoo, to see if there is any available land to use for parking in the southeastern corner of the zoo to be used for employee parking.

“In hindsight, we should have just built it [additional parking] within the construction of the first phase of the retail,” Evans said.

Alicia Bailey with Sain Associates also spoke of upcoming improvements for Mountain Brook, specifically sidewalks. 

Bailey said the city is able to pursue additional funding for its overall plan through a Transportation Alternative Grant, or TAP, for roads that are evaluated and deemed fitting for the grant.

Under the current master plan, Bailey said the city has only a general plan and needs to have additional details such as cost and exact location of the sidewalks. This information would be gained for the sections through the proposed study.

The council approved two sections to be further studied:

Bailey said these sections of sidewalks would not only provide access to a “destination,” but also connect existing sidewalks, making good candidates for TAP funding.

Because the deadline for the grant application is early December, Sain Associates is ready to begin the study immediately and plans to have a decision by the council meeting on Nov. 13. The process will also include a meeting with the neighbors beforehand to review the plan.

“Both these sections are on our master plan, and I think high up on our master plan, so it seems to make sense,” said councilman Lloyd Shelton.

Also during city council, members:

The next City Council meeting will be on Oct. 23.

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