The Jefferson County Commission elected to shell out $5 million toward the Caraway Amphitheater project in North Birmingham, which could replace the Oak Mountain Ampitheatre in Pelham.
The new amphitheater will be located on the Caraway Hospital site, which Corporate Realty purchased in 2020 after the Birmingham City Council re-zoned the property for mixed-use and approved over $13 million in incentives, including a $4.1 million grant to help the company acquire the property.
The incentives also include $9.1 million, which would be based on tax revenues generated by the entire development.
The planned $340 million development, now referred to as "The Star at Uptown," is intended to include single-family and multifamily residential properties in addition to hotel, retail, office and entertainment facilities.
The new theater would be owned by Birmingham Jefferson Convention Center (BJCC) and managed by Live Nation. It would be slightly smaller than the 10,500-seater in Pelham, with only 8,900 to 9,000 seats.
The Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex already agreed to pay $5 million upfront for the new theater's construction. It also agreed to finance $30 million.
Other localities and organizations were asked to fork up $5 million each. Birmingham City Council elected to contribute in January. Live Nation must still contribute its $5 million, and the BJCC must agree to a deal with Corporate Realty for the proposed site to move the project forward.
The Birmingham City Council had already voted to fork up almost $4 million in December to contribute to the Caraway Hospital demolition. The money came from American Rescue Plan Act funding and was an advanced payment of the $4.5 million in future tax abatement that has been promised. Demolition of the property already began over the summer.
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