Birmingham, RH coordinate construction plans

By Kevin Elliott

Conflicting construction schedules involving the planned four-story RH building on S. Old Woodward, between Brown and Daines streets, has led to a construction coordination agreement with Birmingham.

Plans to break ground on the destination shopping location are scheduled for this summer, with a completion date in the fall of 2024. However, the city of Birmingham plans to complete its third and final phase of its S. Old Woodward construction plan – which calls for a rebuilt roadway, streetscape, sidewalks, utilities and pedestrian enhancements – during the same time.

Birmingham Assistant City Manager Jana Ecker said the city and RH reached an agreement to allow for the coordination of construction.

“In order to construct the RH building, it is necessary for RH and Sachse (Construction) to secure a construction staging area for storage and staging during construction, which will include the RH parcel and a portion of the S. Old Woodward, E. Brown Street and Daines street rights of way,” Ecker said. “In order to construct the city’s S. Old Woodward project, it will be necessary for the city to use Daines Street as a city staging area.

“As RH and/or Sachse will be occupying a portion of the S. Old Woodward right of way during the city’s construction period, it will be necessary for RH to perform a complete reconstruction of the roadway and streetscape being used as a construction staging area at their cost, once construction of the RH building is complete,” she said.

Commissioners unanimously approved the agreement at their meeting on Monday, April 25.