$12 million revitalization project creates over 200 jobs in Birmingham’s Roebuck neighborhood

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — A revitalization project in Roebuck has brought over 200 jobs and $5 million to the community.

Once finished, the Roebuck Revitalization will include affordable single-family homes and a children’s health clinic. The Northeast YMCA will get a makeover.

“The building was built in 1965. They have not really done a lot of changes to it, so we felt it was going to be the opportunity to go in and do a complete renovation,” said Clark Virden, the chief development officer at the YMCA of Greater Birmingham.

Virden said the redevelopment will cost a total of $12 million. The YMCA has secured around $10 million in funding. It is fundraising to reach its goal.

Virdin said most of the work is being completed by local contractors. Annually, the project is set to bring $5 million in labor alone.

Habitat for Humanity will build a neighborhood at the site. Twenty-two affordable single-family homes will be built. According to residents who live around the revitalization, the homes will be very beneficial.

“That’s good, too,” said Donovan Browder, who lives in Roebuck. “There’s a lot of people that are homeless. A lot of kids that are homeless. That’s a good thing. They’re only homeless because they can’t afford it.”

The revitalization will also include a children’s health clinic. The Christ Health Center will provide medical, dental and pharmacy services for low- to moderate-income households.

“One of the YMCA’s main tenants is to make sure we have equity for everybody, and no one is turned away for their inability to pay,” Virden said. “So we found ourselves in a natural position.”

The YMCA doesn’t have a timeline for when all of the construction will be completed. YMCA, however, expects there will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the project between January and March 2025.