Adams and Haynes lot combination approved

By Grace Lovins

A proposed lot combination for 770 S. Adams and 1000 Haynes Street in Birmingham’s Triangle District was approved by the city commission on Monday, August 15, following a public hearing on the matter, in order to allow for construction on a new multi-story, mixed use building.

The land parcels formerly housed a two-story office building as well as a Charter One Bank, which are both currently vacated. However the new development will extend into parking lots and streetscape elements along both Haynes and S. Adams. The owners of the property, FHS Birmingham LLC, plan to demolish the existing two buildings, combine the land parcels, and construct a new multi-story mixed use building complete with roughly 4,000 square feet of retail space and 157 residential units.

Plans for the building presented during the planning board meeting on Wednesday, May 11, show the height will be between four and six stories – some areas will only be four stories, while others increase to six stories as a result of site conditions. After the planning board reviewed the final site plan of the proposed building on May 11, the plan was approved on the condition that the applicant obtained a lot combination approval from the city commission.

Planner Brooks Cowen noted that all six of the requirements for a lot combination, under the combination of land parcels ordinance, had been satisfied with no concerns expressed by the planning board. The community impact study, which includes a transportation impact study, was vetted by the planning board and indicated the proposed lot combination as well as vehicular ingress and egress met the requirements of the ordinance.

Commissioners Clinton Baller and Brad Host took the opportunity after a motion was made to express their support for the upcoming development. Baller noted that he believes this to be the biggest residential project ever in Birmingham, and Host shared that he feels the construction will jump start development in the area.

“We appreciate you and your partners opening this area that we’ve been trying very hard to develop and I think it’s a great start and I hope many more will come and follow you as we needed a jump start,” mayor pro-tem Pierre Boutros stated. “We thank you and wish you the best of luck, and as one of my fellow commissioners said, this is one of the largest investments done in that area.”

Commissioners voted 5-0 to approve the lot combination for the site, with commissioner Elaine McLain absent and mayor Therese Longe recusing herself from discussions citing her spouse’s business relations with the property owner.