Council approves incentives for Servis1st headquarters

In a 5-2 vote, the city council approved an incentive package for Servis1st Bank to move its corporate headquarters to Homewood during its April 27 council meeting. The package includes reduction of ad valorem taxes on the property, located on Woodcrest Place near the U.S. 280/Highway 31 intersection, for up to 20 years. If Servis1st was replaced by another company, this package would not be transferable without city approval.

Servis1st first made these relocation plans public at an April 20 finance committee meeting. The 4.5-acre lot the bank has chosen would be home to a five-story building, parking and landscaping. Estimated construction costs range from $25-30 million and the site would have an annual economic impact of around $4 million for the area.

At the city council meeting, Brian Giattina, the CFO of Giattina Aycock Architecture Studio, noted that Servis1st is the second largest bank in the state and expected to grow to 350 employees over the next decade. The incentive package, he said, would help to cover approximately $700,000 worth of improvements to roadways, storm water runoff and fiber and pipeline placement.

“The important part to realize is this is going to be their corporate headquarters. They’ll be there for the next 15 to 20 years,” Giattina said.

Ward 5 Place 2 Representative Peter Wright said he opposed the package because he felt it was too large. He felt that approving incentives of this size would create a “dangerous precedent” for future businesses and send the wrong message to current Homewood businesses.

Council Chairman Bruce Limbaugh and Ward 1 Place 2 Representative Britt Thames countered that Servis1st is a one-of-a-kind economic opportunity and that the bank is committed to being active in the community and a good neighbor to other businesses and residents. Giattina also said that Servis1st “wants to be part of the city.”

Approval means Servis1st is likely to finalize its purchase of the Woodcrest Place property and begin the planning process.

Other city council business included:

• Approval of the West Homewood Community Development Review Committee’s operating procedures. An amendment to add two at large committee members was also sent to the planning commission. Ward 2 Place 1 Representative Fred Hawkins said the committee will invite two non-voting residents to join the meetings while the amendment process takes place.
• Approval to request that Jefferson County allow Homewood to annex several “islands” of county property located within city limits.
• Approval for the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham to carry out a feasibility study of a BikeShare program.
• Approving Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood to seek a grant from the ALDOT Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) for sidewalk and streetscape improvements on 18th Street South. Seeking this grant does not commit the city to carrying out the project.
• Setting a May 11 public hearing to consider an amendment to the sign ordinance.
• Approving a right-of-way acquisition from ALDOT for a property, located near the Wildwood Sam’s and Walmart, as part of the Shades Creek Greenway project’s second phase.
• Terminating the lease on the property at 315 Oxmoor Road to reappraise and write new lease terms.
• Allowing work in the right-of-way near 225 State Farm Parkway to clear out overgrown vegetation.
• Rejection of bids to provide Taser electronic devices to Homewood Police Department, in favor of Police Chief Jim Roberson negotiating a deal.
• Issuing restaurant liquor licenses to Machetes Mexican Restaurant, 406 W. Valley Ave. Suite 104, and Aloft Birmingham SoHo Square, 1903 29th Ave. S.
• Approving off-premises beer and wine licenses to Oxmoor Texaco, 208 Oxmoor Rd., and Neighborhood Hops and Vine, 1712 18th St. S.
• Approving an off-premises beer license for Alabama Goods, 2933 18th St. S.
• Approval of changes to the city zoning book.
• Approving Access Fiber Group’s receipt of the city’s fiber franchise. This was previously owned by Crown Castle, which is being acquired by Access Fiber.
• Carrying over discussion of a pavement management system with Volkert Engineering until the city knows if they will receive partial funding for the project from the state.