Medical enterprise, traffic study discussed at committee meetings

At the July 6 public safety and planning & development committee meetings, committee members discussed two future projects for improving the city.

The first was the possibility of establishing a "medical enterprise zone" on Oxmoor Road. A Barber Companies representative, Bill Hickman, was at the meeting to share his thoughts on the proposal, which would designate a certain area of the city as a location for healthcare-related businesses to establish offices.

Hickman said he originally mentioned the idea to Ward 2 Representative Vance Moody because he noted a high number of medical supply companies and laboratories already leasing Barber office space in the Oxmoor area.

Establishing a medical enterprise zone has the potential to draw more healthcare businesses to Homewood, and Hickman pointed out that these businesses tend to stay in their offices for many years.

“This is a very rising demographic in terms of jobs being created in Alabama,” Hickman said. “If we can get them to come, they’ll generally be with you for a while.”

Ward 5 Representative Peter Wright called the zone the "kernel of an excellent idea." Committee members agreed it would take marketing and partnerships with the Birmingham Business Alliance and Homewood Chamber of Commerce to draw attention to the zone from potential businesses.

“There’s a lot of really good benefits for companies," Ward 4 Representative Barry Smith said. 'We’ve just got to get it in front of the right people.”

The committee will continue discussing the issue at its next meeting.

Second, the public safety committee moved forward on a study of traffic, pedestrian and bike issues across the city. Committee members agreed that a comprehensive study would be the only way to find effective solutions for calming traffic and relieving congestion.

“We’re not taking care of it like we feel like we should,” Ward 3 Representative Patrick McClusky said.

The committee has decided to formally request adding a $100,000 placeholder in funds through the Traffic Improvement Program (TIP). They will also ask consulting firms to provide quotes for performing the study, which is expected to cost less than the $100,000 budgeted, at the next committee meeting.