Homewood Council Clears Samford Housing Plan for January Start

The Homewood City Council voted Monday night to grant final approval to Samford University's plan for two student housing buildings on the south side of Lakeshore Drive, next to the university's track and soccer facility. The decision clears Samford to begin construction on the 494-bed buildings, which will include retail space, as early as January 2027. The university aims to have the residences ready for the fall 2028 semester.

Colin Coyne, Samford's vice president for finance and business affairs, said the university's fall enrollment reached 6,522 students, the largest in its 185-year history. Coyne said the new buildings are intended for upperclass students rather than freshmen. He said the university's goal is to keep 75% of undergraduates living on campus, and the added capacity would allow Samford to reach about 73% or 74% of its expected student body in 2028. "The goal is to keep 75% of our undergraduate students living on campus," Coyne said.

The council also approved The Woods, a golf-oriented outdoor entertainment venue in West Homewood. Owen Ferguson and three of his four partners attended the meeting. Construction on that project is also scheduled to begin in January 2027. Ferguson said the aim is to open by next summer. "Early January is the plan right now," Ferguson said. "We've gotta finalize everything, get our permits."

Three Homewood residents have proposed an 18-hole putting course at 504 and 508 Scott St., between Oxmoor Boulevard and Oxmoor Street.

In other business, the council rescinded an ordinance on restrictive parking on 18th Street, extended Level 3 Communications' franchise with the city, and declared the properties at 1622 26th Ave. S. and 304 Mecca Ave. public nuisances due to excessive plant growth. The council set Nov. 24 as the bid opening date for public works vehicle and maintenance storage buildings and granted right-of-way encroachment approval for a fence at 300 Windsor Drive.