
Vote on Tuscaloosa’s $150 million Sports Illustrated resort delayed
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Vote on Tuscaloosa’s $150 million Sports Illustrated resort delayed
The council met Tuesday, but needed a unanimous vote to give a green light for the project. Councilwoman Raevan Howard and Councilman Norman Crow voted against it. The development plan will be carried over to the council’s next meeting, when it will only need a majority to pass. The resort, announced in 2023, is part of a network of sports-themed resort and lifestyle complexes in popular college towns near universities.
The council met Tuesday, but needed a unanimous vote to give a green light for the project off Rice Mine Road North. Councilwoman Raevan Howard and Councilman Norman Crow voted against it.
The development plan will be carried over to the council’s next meeting, when it will only need a majority to pass.
Last week, The Tuscaloosa City Council voted 5-2 to direct the city attorney to craft an ordinance clearing the way for the resort, with Howard and Crow opposing.
Crow said at that time he was voting no because he believed a better plan could be developed with more time and input.
The resort, announced in 2023, is part of a network of sports-themed resort and lifestyle complexes in popular college towns near universities with devoted fan bases.
A larger scale design which came before the city last year drew objections from residents who were concerned about increasing traffic and other issues.
The new design removes a 137-room hotel and shelves four towers of condos and timeshare units, as well as another building.
The resort would now have buildings no taller than six stories, and about 12,000 square feet of restaurant and retail space.
In all, the new plan would have 161 total units. It would create about 1,100 construction jobs and 120 permanent jobs, according to developers, who did not seek any incentive package from the city.
Councilman Kip Tyler told WVTM 13 that he was told the developer wants to break ground by the end of the year.