Patchwork Farms redevelopment plans underway

As a New Year begins in the Hills, the City is examining Patchwork Farms, a site of more than 80 acres near Cahaba River and Caldwell Mill off U.S. 280 as a prime development target.

After Lifetime Fitness’ successful opening on the site in 2013, the City is now looking for the best use of the surrounding area. Twenty-two acres are being positioned for sale to the city by the Vestavia Hills Board of Education. Northport Holdings will soon construct a 120-bed rehabilitation facility on the site and a nine-acre nature/pedestrian park is also planned.

In December, the City held a three-day planning charrette for Patchwork Farms at the Perimeter Park Hilton. A kick-off presentation gave community members a chance to reveal what kind of developments they would like to see. Design and consulting firms Dover, Kohl & Partners, and Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood, Skipper Consultants and Gary Justiss gave attendees illustrative views of the site’s potential. 

City Manager Jeff Downes said planning charrettes like the one held in December were a common practice during his time as chief of staff in Montgomery.

“Some had five people show up, some had 300 show up, so you just never know,” Downes said. “This was a pretty good turnout for us. What’s important is we are not just getting one person’s idea for the development but it’s a community of people getting together to share their ideas.”

Downes says the City will continue to keep the community updated on the site’s progress. For more information about Patchwork Farms contact city planner Conrad Garrison at 

cgarrison@vhal.org.