The Birmingham City Council met on Tuesday and unanimously approved a zoning change that will let the Boys & Girls Club of Central Alabama construct a new after‑school facility on Huffman Road. The council moved the property from D‑3 single‑family residential to C‑1 neighborhood commercial, clearing the way for a 7,500‑square‑foot building on a 4.5‑acre lot at 1259 Huffman Road.
Community need and council support
Councilor Clinton Woods, whose district includes the site, said the project fills a critical gap for working parents who need a safe, productive place for their children after the school day ends. “We know it can be difficult for working parents who need to make sure their children have a safe and productive place to go when the school day is over,” Woods said. “The Boys & Girls Club does a tremendous job of filling that void, and we’re happy to welcome them to our area.”
Woods added that the club’s programming will help students continue learning and building life‑skills outside the classroom, setting them up for future success. He emphasized that experiences such as conflict resolution and overcoming adversity are essential for developing resilience as young people become adults.
Program focus and expected impact
According to city staff, the new center will concentrate on financial literacy, GED preparation, youth leadership and life‑skills training for middle‑ and high‑school students. Programs will run after school, on weekends and throughout the summer, offering flexible options for families.
Organizers anticipate serving about 50 children each day. The club’s co‑CEO, Daryl Rogers, told council members that the new building will be a stand‑alone facility and will not replace any existing club locations.
Addressing neighbor concerns
During the public comment period, some residents raised concerns about noise and the site’s history. Kathleen Crowder Alexander, who lives nearby, noted that the existing barn on the property was once a natural‑gas pumping station and that the parcel had served as a landfill in the early 1960s. She asked, “Do we really want children playing on this ground? It’s been vacant for 70 or more years for a reason.”
In response, council members were assured that the club’s plans include landscape buffers designed to mitigate noise. The only structure currently on the land is an abandoned barn, which will be removed as part of the development.
Related council actions
In the same meeting, the council approved additional funding for the ongoing $1 million renovation of Huffman Ballpark, including $30,600 for accessibility upgrades, lighting improvements, new dugouts, signage, roof repairs, restroom renovations and fence upgrades. An extra $100,000 in District 1 funds was allocated to Friends of Huffman Ballpark to support youth‑sports planning and community outreach.
The council also approved a $22,900 agreement with East Village Arts to convert an existing courtyard in the East Lake neighborhood into a public space for artists, residents and students.
Looking ahead
With the zoning change secured, the Boys & Girls Club can move forward with design and construction, bringing new educational and recreational opportunities to Birmingham families. Council members expressed confidence that the project will strengthen the community by providing a safe environment where children can develop skills that extend far beyond the classroom.
Original reporting: BirminghamWatch — read the source article.
