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Birmingham Neighborhood Projects Shape Housing Choices and Daily Life for Residents
Multiple developments scheduled to start or open in 2026 will add homes, workforce facilities and open space in several areas.
How we reported this
The Star Uptown development on the 52-acre former Carraway Hospital site will begin construction in Spring 2026, with 64 new cottages and townhomes expected for residents by early 2027. The $340 million mixed-use project is one of several neighborhood efforts moving forward this year that directly affect where people live and work in Birmingham.
Housing Additions in Established Neighborhoods
Woodlawn, the historic neighborhood east of downtown, is adding 16 new single-family homes priced from the low $200,000s through a community-driven effort. The Smithfield-College Hills-Graymont Choice Neighborhoods Initiative is building 920 mixed-income apartments across seven phases running through 2030, with a new Social Innovation Center and workforce library planned for construction in 2026. These projects increase the supply of homes in established areas and introduce dedicated workforce resources for local residents.
Grant Funding Targets Western Corridor
In February 2026 the state of Alabama awarded Birmingham a $2 billion SECCH grant to turn the Western Corridor, including Ensley, into a logistics and manufacturing hub. The funding is expected to increase housing demand in the corridor as new employment opportunities take shape. Avondale, Ensley and Southside are listed among neighborhoods positioned for continued development through 2025 and 2026.
New Nature Preserve Opens in Hueytown
Hueytown will open a 400-plus-acre nature preserve in the first quarter of 2026. The preserve adds public open space for residents in an area already seeing housing and infrastructure activity. Together the projects expand residential options, add workforce support and provide recreational land without requiring residents to travel outside their immediate communities.
Residents in these neighborhoods can track construction timelines and housing availability through local planning updates. The developments follow the timelines set in project announcements and grant awards already on record.
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