Lane Parke

This article is about the proposed development in Mountain Brook. For the Birmingham park, see Lane Park.

Lane Parke of Mountain Brook Village is a proposed 14-acre, $200 million commercial, office and residential development planned for a site near Mountain Brook Village. The owners of the property, which includes the Mountain Brook Shopping Center (1955) and Park Lane Apartments (1942), are Rele Evans and his son John, incorporated as "Evson, Inc."

MVE & Partners of California has completed master planning for the proposed development, assisted locally by Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood. The proposal calls for phased construction, coordinating with the Watkins Brook Flood Hazard Mitigation Project being planned by the City of Mountain Brook to reduce the risk of damage caused by flooding of nearby Watkins Brook. The first phase would include space for retail tenants of the shopping center whose businesses would otherwise have been disrupted by the flood mitigation project. Ultimately the center will have 206,000 square feet of retail and commercial space accessed from pedestrian-friendly sidewalks and plazas, centering on a new "main street" at the center of the site. Ken Findley and Retail Specialists, Inc have been contracted to target local, regional and national retailers to fill the other available spaces.

The project's 1,200+ parking spaces will include street-side parking, parking lots and covered parking. Automobile access to the property would be cut from the current 12 points to five. The proposal includes a 75-room boutique hotel and 45,000 square feet of office space above the shops. The final phase of development is set to include a residential component of condominiums, town houses and/or apartments.

The project plan is subject to approval by the city's planning commission, city council, and architectural review board. The project is opposed by the newly-formed Friends of Mountain Brook Villages. In early 2010 the developer acknowledged that it was looking at making changes to the proposed project to satisfy some of the objections raised by residents.

In May 2010, the redesigned development was announced. It was reduced to 14 acres instead of 27, and as originally proposed. The new Lane Parke design calls for 206,000 square feet of retail space, 20 townhomes and enclosed parking decks. It also incorporates three park areas into the development. The new proposal attempts to mimick the existing village more closely to appear as if it is a natural extension. A buffer block was introduced, with one- and two-story retail shops that will replace the current Mountain Brook Shopping Center along Culver Road and a new road to be created between Montevallo Road and Lane Park Road, to be called Jemison Road. Existing apartments will not be redesigned.

References

• Tomberlin, Michael (April 5, 2009) "Family plans $200 million Mountain Brook Village shop, hotel development." Birmingham News
• Cooper, Lauren B. (November 17, 2009) "[1] Leasing agent: Lane Parke project in Mountain Brook ready to go]." Birmingham Business Journal - accessed November 18, 2009.
• Cooper, Lauren B. (November 30, 2009) "Lane Parke group says 60% oppose project." Birmingham Business Journal - accessed December 8, 2009
• Thornton, William (February 20, 2010) "Builder rethinks plans for Lane Parke." Birmingham News
• Thornton, William (May 24, 2010) "Lane Parke redesign smaller, made to fit into Mountain Brook Village style." Birmingham News

External links

• Lane Parke website