BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – The proposal to bring a Sports Illustrated Resort to Tuscaloosa has been delayed after the city council decided to table the development during their latest meeting.
Developers for the resort declined to comment after the meeting, stating they want to ensure the project is something the entire Tuscaloosa community can support. City leaders remain hopeful that a revised plan will be presented that addresses the concerns raised.
The project, which would be built along Rice Mine Road, faced pushback from local residents primarily over design and infrastructure concerns. One resident voiced worries about the design of the hotel, stating, “Tuscaloosa citizens have concerns about the hotel design, and additional due diligence is needed to address these issues.” Another resident added, “I think the additional proposal here would add a significant amount of traffic.”
City Councilor Norman Crow acknowledged the concerns and emphasized the developers’ willingness to revisit the project. “They were willing to look at the design and address some of the issues that were presented. They’re willing to go back, revisit it, and bring something forward,” Crow said.
The brief public hearing held during the council meeting contrasted sharply with the previous hearing, which spurred the decision to delay the project. No new comments were made, but the council ultimately decided to give the developers more time to adjust their plans.
Crow expressed optimism about the future of the project, stating, “I think they want to be in Tuscaloosa, and their vision includes being here in some format. I expect them to work with the community and come back with a different plan.”
The timeline for when the project might proceed remains uncertain. The land designated for the potential resort remains undeveloped for now, with Crow suggesting that it could be months before a new plan is presented.
“I would expect something to come back probably after the first of the year. My plan is to have some community meetings for input so that, before we reach this stage again, there’s more community buy-in and we can look at things before a final plan is presented to see if we can make something better,” Crow said.
In addition to concerns over design and building heights, residents have raised issues related to traffic flow, environmental impact, and some have voiced outright opposition to the resort’s presence in the area.
The project’s future remains in limbo, but we will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.
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