REV Birmingham

Project Summary

REV Birmingham’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) cleanup grant is proceeding with site improvements soon to be underway at 5601 1^st Avenue S in Woodlawn. REV acquired the property, along with two other parcels across the street, in 2021. This project is envisioned to leverage the activity and growth potential at the eastern terminus of the BJCTA’s new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system (Birmingham Express), which is adjacent to the site. Since the beginning, REV has been talking with the community about how this property can support the community’s desire for increased economic activity in line with their vision of a more vibrant Woodlawn (see gallery below).

The EPA cleanup grant awarded to REV will focus on the removal of petroleum-contaminated soil caused by historical uses of the property. Those historical uses included a dry cleaner, a gasoline station, and various automobile repair shops which operated on the property from the early 1900s through the early 2000s.

Since receiving the cleanup grant funds, REV has enrolled the property into the Alabama Voluntary Cleanup Program.

The application for enrollment was approved by ADEM on June 11, 2024. ADEM has also approved REV’s cleanup plan to remove contaminated soil from the property and placed the plan on public notice in early October 2024.  With these approvals in place, REV anticipates beginning the cleanup work in November 2024 and expects to complete the removal work by mid-January 2024.

REV has estimated a volume of up to 3,200 tons of contaminated soil to be removed in connection with the excavation activities summarized in the approved cleanup plan. Following removal, the excavation will be backfilled with clean soil and/or aggregate material to support future development efforts.

Once the cleanup is complete, REV envisions the short-term use of the property as a parking lot to support Woodlawn residents and commuters using the Birmingham Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) station in Woodlawn.

As the eastern terminus of the Birmingham Xpress (BX) line, this public transit system connects residents of 25 Birmingham neighborhoods to employment, opportunities, and vital services along its corridor. BX provides high-quality public transit system, delivering fast, reliable and cost-effective mobility services for citizens and visitors alike.