March 2023 | Volume 13 | Issue 12
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REAL ESTATE SPOTLIGHT Low inventory causing slight market slowdown By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE
T
he residential real estate market in Mountain Brook slowed down a bit in 2023 compared to the previous year, but it’s not because the market declined. The total home closings in Mountain Brook declined slightly from 404 single-family homes in 2021 to 357 in 2023, but according to Katie Crommelin, a realtor at Ray & Poynor, it’s due to there being fewer
See REAL ESTATE | page A25
New custom homes are under construction in the Moss Creek Circle development off Old Leeds Road in Mountain Brook on Feb. 8. Photo by Erin Nelson.
Remembering Terry Oden
Terry Oden served as Mountain Brook’s mayor for 20 years, but before that he had a long career in the Secret Service. Oden is seen in his office at Mountain Brook City Hall in January 2016. Staff photo.
A look back at the life of former Mountain Brook mayor, councilman By SOLOMON CRENSHAW JR. City Manager Sam Gaston remembers Terry Oden as a councilman and mayor who had a fondness for police and fire, even in retirement. “One of his hobbies was buying and collecting, [along with some friends] old fire trucks and restoring them,” Gaston said. “When you saw one in the parade, usually it was one of theirs or one of their group’s. For several
INSIDE
Sponsors............... A4 City......................... A6
Business................ A8 Chamber..............A16
Community..........A18 Schoolhouse.......A20
years, he would ride the fire truck in our homecoming parade, especially our Christmas parade.” City Council President Virginia Smith admits that she and Terry Oden didn’t always see eye to eye. Usually, but not always. “We did not always agree,” Smith said. “But we talked candidly with each other. Whatever position he took, he always stood by it very firmly, and there was no budging.” Smith admits that Oden’s stern stance could be frustrating. “But I respected that, and he always respected my positions as well,” she said.
Events.................. A23 Sports.................... B4
See TERRY ODEN | page A26 Opinion................. B14 Calendar............... B15 facebook.com/villageliving
Zoë’s Homecoming
Summer Camp Guide
Zoë’s Kitchen reopens in its original Crestline location.
Learn more about summer camps going on in the Mountain Brook area.
See page A10
See page B12