ALABAMA STATE EDITION
231
65
72 Florence
2
Huntsville
20 Decatur
72
565 59
43
A Supplement to:
231
431
31
5
Gadsden
78 59 Anniston
20
Birmingham Bessemer
82 Tuscaloosa
65 280
20 82 Auburn
80
85
Selma
Phenix City
Montgomery
82
August 19 2015
65
231
43 84 431 331
84
84 52
Vol. XXVIII • No. 17
31
45
“The Nation’s Best Read Construction Newspaper… Founded in 1957.”
Dothan
65 98
Mobile
10
Your Alabama Connection • Rich Olivier, Atlanta, GA • 1-800-409-1479
Shoppes at Legacy Park to Revive Cedar Crest By Cindy Riley CEG CORRESPONDENT
Scheduled to open this fall, the Shoppes at Legacy Park in Tuscaloosa, Ala., will serve as a major shopping center for the college town best known for Crimson Tide athletics. Located off McFarland Boulevard and 13th Street in much of the former Cedar Crest neighborhood, the $55 million project is being built in an area hard hit by a devastating twister in 2011. “Tuscaloosa had a real need with the growth of the University and the overall market,” said Keith Owens, managing partner of Alumni Development of Clanton, Ala., which is building the shopping center. “Really, it is the first major, non-multifamily/student housing, retail project since the tornado. “It is built by stronger, better and more improved standards, and is one of the first MX5 zoning developments completed in the new zoning regulations,” said Owens, noting that patrons will particularly enjoy the variety of shops and restaurants. “Legacy Park will draw from East Mississippi, West Central Alabama and allow customers in this market an option they are currently traveling to Birmingham to shop.” Anchor stores include The Fresh Market, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Bed Bath & Beyond, Cost Plus World Market, PetSmart and DSW. Owens said Legacy Park also will have a number of eateries and smaller retailers, all new to the local market. A grand opening is expected by October 2015, although some stores plan to serve customers before the school year begins. “Work on the project is roughly 80 to 90 percent complete,” said Eddie Cassell, senior project manager of general contractor Stewart Perry Company Inc. “Two of the eight buildings have been completed and are in the process of being stocked with merchandise. We are pouring sidewalk, landscaping, paving and exterior finishes. One building is under construction and is approximately 50 percent complete. That building has grading activities going on. All of these buildings have exterior façade of brick and stucco, storefront and canopies. The city has modified its requirements pertaining to EIFS/stucco. A lot of attention was paid to roofing wind uplift ratings.” As for the main challenges on the project, said Cassell, “There are multiple tenants, and turnover/completion dates vary, depending on the tenant. Likewise, the drawing plans/specs are typically released at different times, depending on how long the design process takes between the project architect and tenants’ architect. This makes it challeng-
David Harrison, Stewart Perry Company photo
Located off McFarland Boulevard and 13th Street in much of the former Cedar Crest neighborhood, the $55 million project is being built in an area hard hit by a devastating twister in 2011.
ing to bid, as it would be much easier to bid all at one time. “We have different subcontractors of the same trade doing different buildings, in some cases. It depends on who is the low and qualified bidder on that particular building. There was an open culvert running across the site that was boxed in by the city. This was a city project that involved some coordination with our work. Also, McFarland Boulevard is being widened along one side of the site. Adjoining roads have been closed, in order to perform this work. Coordination was required between that contractor and the Alabama Department of Transportation. Traffic flow patterns have changed during the course of the project, as a result.” According to Cassell, typically work has been phased, depending on when the developer comes to an agreement with the stores and when the design process is completed. “The developer has attempted to lump turnover dates for anchors together, but it’s not always possible, depending on numerous factors.”
Approximately 1,500 loads, nearly 20,000 cu. yds. (15,291 cu m) of soil, have been removed from the site. An almost equal amount has been brought back onto site. “The tornado destroyed everything that was previously standing on the site,” said Cassell. “The owner cleared the site of all structures, so it was an open field. The existing soils are basically unsuitable to build upon, and rain affected the soils greatly. Thousands of yards of unsuitable material were removed from the site and replaced with suitable material. We used as much of the onsite soils as possible. “Treating the soils on site was limited. We couldn’t lime stabilize for fear of lime dust being blown onto existing streets, apartments, homes and stores. We also didn’t have a lot of room to lime treat the soils. We did try to condition the soils and dry wet material, but due to the time restraints and wet weather, this was minimal. There is a massive storm water detention system under the parking lot in the middle of the site. This involves a vast system of pipes and stone.” see LEGACY page 2