Corporate realty’s Robert Simon Unveils New Details about Carraway Hospital Redevelopment Project to Rotary

This week the Rotary Club of Birmingham welcomed Rotarian Robert Simon, CEO & President of Corporate Realty. Simon unveiled exciting new details about the company's redevelopment of the former Carraway Methodist Medical Center site in North Birmingham. He shared the planned mixed-use development will be called The Star Uptown and will feature 44 to 48 market-rate residential homes, 180 workforce housing units, a 125,000-square-foot Physicians Plaza Building, as well as entertainment options such as a bowling alley, pickleball courts, retail, hotels, support services, concert venues and restaurants with an emphasis on pedestrian mobility.

Simon shared the logo, a star against a backdrop of the Birmingham skyline, as well as plans to preserve the hospital’s distinctive blue star as part of the new development. Simon explained the company expects to start demolition at the site late this year or early in 2022. He also discussed details of the company’s Southtown project which will bring a mix of affordable and market rate housing, office and commercial space, parks and bike lanes to 9th Ave. He explained such projects typically take a decade from concept to completion and require a significant planning and collaboration before noticeable change begins.

“This name and this vision are the result of literally years of conversations and meetings with neighborhood groups, city councilors, city staff and many others with an interest in what happens at Carraway,” Simon said. “We all have the common interest in removing this blight and making sure the property is once again a shining star for the surrounding community and for Birmingham overall.”

Simon was highlighted in several news stories covering the announcements, including aldotcom, Bham Now, Birmingham Business Journal, WBRC FOX 6, and WIAT CBS 42.

“When we began working on this development, the first thing people wanted to know was what we planned to do with the star,” Simon said. “That star was one of Birmingham’s most recognizable landmarks, and it meant something to people. We want to honor that past even as we build a new future at this important site.”