Critics question unfulfilled promises in the $400K study that the mayor proposes to strengthen and green Birmingham.

An Idea for a Stronger, Greener Birmingham

According to Woodfin's office, if approved, the plan would be completed by April 2026, with work starting this spring. Under the direction of two outside consulting businesses, Lotus Engineering & Sustainability, based in Colorado, and Hummingbird, a community engagement firm based in Atlanta, the project would involve cooperation between city professionals, citizens, and stakeholders.

In a statement, Woodfin said, "As stewards of our city, we must do everything in our power to help eliminate the barriers in establishing a healthier, more sustainable community for everyone." "I am thrilled that our residents and stakeholders will work with the city's sustainability and planning experts to create a roadmap for a more resilient future."

City Council opposition

Even some of the city's elected officials are not on board, despite Woodfin's fervor.

Valerie Abbott, the chair of the Planning and Zoning Committee and the longest-serving member of the city council, claimed she was unaware of the initiative until it was made public.

Abbott told AL.com, "I suppose I will learn more about it when he discusses the facts with the council." "He just did not do it prior to issuing the press release."

Abbott, who has long criticized Woodfin's communication and transparency style, has expressed annoyance that City Hall frequently proceeds with significant projects without first consulting the council.

According to Abbott, "the council typically finds out about developments last." Because we feel like partners—even if we are not—that occasionally has a propensity to irritate the municipal council.

Issues with Funding and Accountability

The idea has been defended by Woodfin's staff, who claim that the study's money was already part of the city's approved council-approved planning, engineering, and permit budget. A committee chose the consulting firms to oversee the project after a call for proposals was released.

Abbott and others, though, are still dubious. She voiced doubts about the proposed project's compatibility with Birmingham's current comprehensive plan as well as its ability to adequately address the environmental and infrastructure issues facing the city.

"We have to catch up since we were not included in the planning, which is a problem the city council has," Abbott stated.

The program is an extension of the city's overall strategy and will incorporate environmental initiatives along with land use and transportation policies, according to Sherry-Lea Bloodworth Botop, Chief Resilience and Sustainability Officer in Woodfin's Office of Resilience and Sustainability.

Locals Call for Action, Not More Plans

Some locals claim to have heard about the idea while city officials discuss it.

Longtime Birmingham resident and North Birmingham Neighborhood secretary Anna Brown expressed annoyance at previous unmet promises.

"There have been promises made to us in the city previously, and none of them have come to pass," Brown stated. "When you have not followed through on the promises that have already been made, why should we keep paying money to bring in new individuals with new promises?"

Brown cited long-delayed projects in her neighborhood, including the historic North Birmingham Business District's long-promised rehabilitation efforts and the conversion of the former North Birmingham School into a community resource center.

According to Brown, "I am very sure we are not the only neighborhood that has been promised something." "Let us keep the pledges we have already made."

What Comes Next?

Woodfin's $400,000 proposal will shortly be reviewed by the Birmingham City Council, which will then determine whether to proceed with the study. The mayor may need to give more information and show how this new plan will result in actual action—rather than just another unrealized vision for the city's future—because council members are skeptical and residents are frustrated.

Will Birmingham's Sustainability Plan be the secret to a stronger, greener city, or will it just be another expensive, fruitless study? We will find out in time.