Public invited to Woodward Bates workshop

The Birmingham City Commission will hold a workshop on Tuesday, March 26, at 5 p.m. to review a proposed development agreement for the new N. Old Woodward parking structure and related Bates Street development project, and the public is invited to attend.

In June 2018, following a request for proposal (RFP) process, the city commission chose Woodward Bates LLC to redevelop the N. Old Woodward parking lot with more parking, an extension of Bates Street, a liner of retail along the new street, a mixed use building comprising residential and office space, and a park. Woodward Bates, LLC consists of Victor Saroki of Saroki Architecture in Birmingham; Paul Robertson of Robertson Brothers Homes in Bloomfield Hills; John Rakolta Jr., of Walbridge in Detroit, and Ron Boji of Boji Group.

At their meeting on January 11, 2019, commissioners unanimously approved a non-binding pre-development agreement between the city and Woodward Bates, as well as an engagement and cost reimbursement agreement for design schematics for the parking deck and extension of Bates Street, for a cost of not more that $575,000.

Formal consideration of the development agreement is planned for the April 8 city commission meeting.

No decisions or action will take place at the March 26 meeting as it is a workshop.