Samford Architecture Students Focus on Rosedale Area

A group of Samford University architecture students spent this semester studying a very familiar part of our community, the edge of downtown near Rosedale. The project centered on the stretch along 18th Street at the northern edge of downtown Homewood. This is the point where downtown starts to transition and connect into surrounding neighborhoods, especially Rosedale.


This is a regular part of the architecture program, using real places to help students work through real situations. This year, they were looking closely at how that part of Homewood functions today and how it could better connect, particularly between downtown and the historic Rosedale neighborhood just behind it. Students took a close look at walkability, public space, and how people move through the area. Some explored ways to add green space and create places people would want to gather. Others focused on how new development could either strengthen or take away from what is already there. Those ideas grew into detailed concepts shaped by both individual work and team effort.


As the semester came to a close, all of the concepts and designs were shared with Homewood City leaders and local architects, offering a chance for them to listen and offer feedback. Mayor Jennifer Andress shared that the presentations provided real insight, even in an area she already knows well. She noted that students helped highlight a drop in walkability north of 28th Avenue, which aligns with ongoing conversations about where more work is still needed along that corridor.


While these projects are not being selected as official plans, the value comes from what they reveal. What stood out most was the care the students showed toward Rosedale. There was a clear effort to respect its history while still thinking about how the area can grow in a thoughtful way. That balance is not easy, but it came through in many of the designs.


City leaders walked away with real gratitude for Samford and the role it plays in offering this kind of learning, which not only shapes students but also brings meaningful insight back into the community.


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May 5, 2026
Upcoming Meetings PUBLIC MEETING 3 The next public meeting will take place Tuesday, May 19 at 6:00pm in the Council Chambers at City Hall, located at 2850 19th Street South . The planning team, including Town Planning and Urban Design Collaborative and City Explained, Inc., will walk through updates and help guide the discussion. This meeting will be recorded and live streamed . PUBLIC MEETING 4 The following day, Wednesday, May 20 , the team will be set up at the Homewood Board of Education offices at 450 Dale Avenue from 9:00am to 7:00pm . You can stop by at any time during the day to share thoughts, ask questions, or simply learn more about the process. The City of Homewood is working on a city-wide Comprehensive Plan. This plan will serve as a roadmap for how Homewood grows, invests, and serves its residents over the next 25 years. Homewood’s current Comprehensive Plan was adopted in 2007. Since then, a lot has changed, and more change is coming. With the city moving to a Council-Manager form of government , this is a key time to clarify what matters most to residents. The plan will help inform capital improvements, public service priorities, housing trends, transportation needs, and future land use. It will also give newly elected officials clear direction on what the community values. Your Voice, Your City Every resident will have a chance to be involved. This isn’t just a document, it’s a shared vision for Homewood’s future, shaped by the people who live here. The plan will reflect the needs of each of the city’s four wards and identify short, medium, and long-term projects for both public and private investment. Whether it's about where new housing fits, what kinds of businesses we want, or how we move around, this process is about making those choices together. Previous Meetings PUBLIC MEETING 2 Thursday, January 29 PUBLIC MEETING 1 Wednesday, January 28 WATCH WORKSHOP VIDEO
May 1, 2026
This is a list of the streets that will be getting paved across Homewood throughout the rest of the year. This is part of our ongoing effort to maintain and improve road conditions across the City. You may see periodic lane closures or short delays as work moves from area to area.
April 28, 2026
Microtransit is officially coming to Homewood, adding an on-demand option to move around our city. It works just like ride sharing whereby riders will be able to request a trip through an app and get picked up nearby, with routes designed in real time to keep trips efficient and wait times low. What makes this especially important is how the pilot is being funded . The initial phase, running from July 2026 through September 2027, is fully funded through the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham , at about $792,000. This allows the city to launch the service without immediate long-term cost commitments. After that, projected annual costs are expected to be around $610,000 to $630,000, depending on how the service is adjusted over time, with up to three vehicles operating during set service hours. This pilot approach gives Homewood time to see how people actually use the system, where demand is strongest, and how the service can be refined. It also keeps flexibility built in, with the ability to adjust hours, coverage, and fleet size based on real data. City leaders are optimistic that this will become a convenient and meaningful way for many in our community to get where they need to go. To learn more about this program check here: https://maxtransit.org/ondemand/ You can also VIEW THE PRESENTATION presented to the Council on April 13, 2026.
April 28, 2026
Pre-Council Meeting - April 27, 2026 Pre-Council discussed several projects, including improvements to the US 31 pedestrian tunnel and a new parking lot at the former Oxmoor Road Waffle House site, both now heading toward May bid openings. They also discussed a budget transfer to restore a damaged traffic signal and began early conversation around a Central Avenue property tied to access, parking, and future development questions.  Agenda: https://bit.ly/3OK6Xrj
April 16, 2026
Parking Alert The Dawson parking deck will be closed to the public, April 20 through April 24, for cleaning and restriping. Plan ahead for alternate parking in that area for the week.
April 15, 2026
Over the years, many films, tv shows, and commercials have been shot right here in Homewood. Now there is a push to keep that momentum going, and your property could be part of it. So what do you do? Take photos of a property you own and upload them using the button below. Once submitted, your location becomes visible to industry professionals looking for places to film. If there is interest, the film office will reach out directly. Film Birmingham has brought together all 34 municipalities in Jefferson County to create a more film friendly region. It is a coordinated effort to highlight what makes communities like Homewood stand out, from our neighborhoods and parks to our downtown and unique spaces. If you own or manage a property and want to take part, you can submit it through Film Birmingham’s site. It is a simple step that helps showcase Homewood and opens the door for more projects to come here.
April 14, 2026
Pre-Council Meeting - April 13, 2026 Key items the Council discussed was a proposed microtransit pilot program that could help people move around the city a little better, and a rezoning request on Montgomery Street tied to new investment and redevelopment. There was also discussion around funding shifts for paving and stormwater, along with new tools like an AI tool to improve how residents get information on the city's website. Agenda: https://bit.ly/3Ov9pSw
April 8, 2026
The Planning Commission discussed a request to rezone two properties on Montgomery Street from a neighborhood shopping district to a central business district so a local fitness studio could move into a larger space. There was discussion about parking and noise, with a nearby property owner raising concerns about overflow parking and loud music. The applicant explained that parking would meet requirements with about 21 spaces and that the business operates by appointment, limiting traffic. They also shared plans to add soundproofing to reduce noise. The owner agreed to restrict certain uses on the property, including no drive-throughs, gas stations, liquor stores, smoke shops, auto parts stores, or theaters. The Planning Commission approved the rezoning with conditions tied to the site plan, parking, and use restrictions, and it will now move to City Council with a positive recommendation Agenda: https://bit.ly/3PQ7et2
April 6, 2026
As part of spring cleaning across Homewood, crews have been replacing old and aging street signs. So far, about 547 of the city’s roughly 572 signs have been updated, with the remaining to be finished by the end of May. They are made in house by our Traffic Department, led by Randy Hambly. His team designs, produces, and installs them. This includes street name signs, parking signs, speed limit signs, and warning signs like school crossings, pedestrian crossings, dead end signs, and stop ahead signs. Producing these in house saves the city close to $24k each year and allows crews to respond faster by designing, making, and installing signs without waiting on outside vendors. On average, the city makes about 250 to 300 signs each year. Materials are sourced from trusted suppliers, including one based in West Homewood, which allows for quick turnaround on orders and keeps the process moving efficiently. This is one of many ways the Traffic Department works each day to serve our residents and keep things running smoothly across the city.
April 5, 2026
Block Party Join the Homewood Library Foundation Block Party on April 25 from 4 to 6:30pm at the library. Enjoy food, music, and a relaxed time with friends and neighbors. Tickets are sold at the door. $25 for ages 21 and up, $10 for ages 4 to 20, and free for ages 0 to 3. LEARN MORE
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