finance
Mixed-Use Projects Add Co-Working and Retail Space as Birmingham Tracks Business Trends
Developers move forward on sites that include new commercial options while the Birmingham Business Alliance promotes networking for local firms.
How we reported this
The Tower at Uptown, a $28 million residential and retail project near City Walk, will include 25 housing units, a food hall, co-working spaces and an urgent care clinic, with completion expected in 18 months.
This pipeline arrives after Birmingham completed more than 90 developments in 2025, giving companies a direct look at where new office, retail and service locations are taking shape. The additions matter now because they expand the supply of flexible commercial space at a time when firms seek room to grow without long-term leases.
Projects Under Way
The $15 million Family Fun Center at the Birmingham CrossPlex campus began construction in November 2025 and is scheduled to open in 18 months. Star Uptown, converting the former Carraway Hospital property into cottages and townhomes, is set to begin construction in early 2026 with residential units expected by early 2027. The Yeilding, a redevelopment of the historic Yeilding Building at 2129 2nd Avenue N into a mixed-use destination, is expected to open in 2026 near The Collins Bar and Canary Gallery. A pedestrian bridge linking Wald Park and the Vestavia Public Library is also opening in 2026.
What Businesses Need to Know
The Birmingham Business Alliance hosts quarterly luncheons with keynote speakers and monthly after-work networking events for professionals in the Greater Birmingham Region. Beakers & Brews is a free, monthly happy hour networking series exclusively for bioscience companies in the Greater Birmingham Region, offered in partnership with the Birmingham Business Alliance and local economic development groups. Birmingham hosts an annual Small Business Week 2026 from May 3-9 with the theme "Build Big: Elevate Your Vision. Empower Your Journey" to connect entrepreneurs to resources and capital. Approximately 98% of Birmingham businesses are classified as small businesses under 50 employees, with 92% being micro businesses under 10 employees. Over 17,000 small businesses in greater Birmingham employ more than 76,000 workers.
Companies that track these timelines can plan moves into new co-working or retail footprints and use alliance events to meet property owners and service providers before spaces fill. Checking the Birmingham Business Alliance site for luncheon dates and Beakers & Brews sessions gives firms the next practical step to match their needs with the projects now advancing.
This article is general information only and is not personal financial or investment advice. Consider your own circumstances and seek licensed professional advice before making financial decisions.