December 2022 | Volume 16 | Issue 2
BROUGHT TO YOU BY
NEWS RADIO THE 280 CORRIDOR’s COMMUNITY NEWS SOURCE 280LIVING.COM | STARNESMEDIA.COM
SERVING THE 280 CORRIDOR, HOMEWOOD, HOOVER, MOUNTAIN BROOK, TRUSSVILLE AND VESTAVIA HILLS
SATURDAYS AT 7 AM ON BIRMINGHAM’S TALK 99.5
MAKING NEW PATHS Double Oak Park opens with new hiking, biking opportunities
By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE
A
s Shelby County continues to focus on parks and recreation, the county’s newest park has recently opened. County Manager Chad Scroggins said it has a view that will rival the King’s Chair
overlook at Oak Mountain State Park. Double Oak Park became the latest addition to Shelby County’s 51 parks after a ribbon cutting on Nov. 10. The 750-acre property was purchased in August 2021, and crews went straight to work. The trail system was designed, and the county awarded the contract to
Anniston-based Flomotion Trail Builders for construction. The $200,000 contract for the first 7 miles of the trail was paid using county funds. After the contract was complete, a second, $25,000 contract was approved to create a beginner loop approximately a mile in length near the Shelby County 43 trailhead.
See DOUBLE OAK PARK | page A24
The view from the top of the Double Oak Mountain Park trail. Photo by Kendall Williams.
Creating tech hot spots
A birds-eye view of the Meadow Brook Office Park along U.S. 280. Photo courtesy of 58 INC.
Hoover hopes to transform Meadow Brook, Inverness office parks into mixed-use innovation centers By JON ANDERSON As the office market deals with high vacancy rates, Hoover officials are developing strategies to help re-energize and potentially transform some of the city’s office parks into mixed-use centers, particularly in the U.S. 280 corridor. The city is focusing on Meadow Brook Corporate Park and Inverness Center North, both of which have large office buildings available for lease, with a total of more than 600,000 square
INSIDE
Sponsors .............. A4 City ........................ A6
Business ..............A10 Chamber .............A16
Community ......... A17 Schoolhouse ....... A21
feet of vacant space, according to property owners and the city. Meadow Brook Corporate Park has about 281,000 square feet of vacant office space, said Greg Knighton, the city of Hoover’s economic development manager. Slightly west, Inverness Center North has two completely vacant 150,000-square-foot buildings and a third similar-sized building with about
See HOT SPOTS | page A26
Sports.................... B4 Events................... B10
Opinion................. B12 Calendar............... B14 facebook.com/280living
Festive Reading
‘One Heck of a Ride’
CPES teacher fulfills lifelong goal with her first book, “Celebrating Christmas: History, Traditions, and Activities — A Holiday Book for Kids.”
Clemson-bound five-star quarterback Christopher Vizzina completes storied Briarwood Christian career.
See page A20
See page B4