As part of the Urban Land Institute’s Southern States Exchange, guests were invited to a 1.5-day event to explore Birmingham and the Development of Excellence award-winning Pepper Place on March 1st and 2nd to learn about this renaissance, its context, the tools of its development, and the results of its ongoing efforts.
Led by Sloss Real Estate President Cathy Sloss Jones, the tour of Pepper Place highlighted the development’s 30-year history of intentional growth and dedicated redevelopment, focusing on a desire to build walkable neighborhoods and environmentally sustainable developments while being sensitive to historical considerations and shifting demographics.
This exploration of this Southeastern city’s robust transformation was accompanied by special guest speaker Christopher Coes, Vice President of LOCUS, a national coalition of real estate developers and investors who advocate for sustainable, equitable, walkable development in America’s metropolitan areas.
On day one of the event, guests were also treated to tours of:
- The new Rotary Trail and Railroad Park
- Regions Field, home of the Birmingham Barons
- Sloss Furnaces, a National Historic Monument and one of Birmingham’s first Iron Furnaces
- Avondale, an urban neighborhood where public-private partnerships have catalyzed a thriving hub of local food, beverage and entertainment
On day two attendees:
- Were given a city overview at the historic Vulcan Park and Museum
- Toured a development at University of Alabama, Birmingham
- Saw the newly renovated Thomas Jefferson Tower
- Participated in a walking tour of Downtown Birmingham, that highlighted $1 billion in investments in the central downtown area including Pizitz Food Hall, the historic Lyric Theatre, and Birmingham’s new Intermodal Facility
