‘Busting at the seams’: Samford University housing expansion clears planning commission

Samford University is moving forward with a major campus expansion after the Homewood Planning Commission unanimously greenlit a plan for two new student housing buildings. This development aims to address the university's growing demand for on-campus living space.

Campus Expansion Details

The approved proposal features two six-story structures designed to add 494 beds to the university's housing inventory. In addition to residential units, the project includes plans for retail space, parking, and improved pedestrian walkways. Samford currently serves roughly 4,500 undergraduate students, and the project is expected to bring the campus capacity to approximately 3,500 total beds.

"We’ve become among the most sought-after Christian-centered universities in the country in a brutally challenging market in higher education," said Collin Coyne, Samford’s vice president for finance and business affairs. "Our goal is to have about 75% of our students living on campus, which creates the best atmosphere that generates the highest retention."

Addressing Community Concerns

While the project promises to alleviate housing pressure, some Homewood neighbors have raised concerns regarding traffic, stormwater management, and potential threats to a local salamander habitat. Resident Lindy Neighbors highlighted worries about chemical runoff and litter, noting the potential impact on Shades Creek.

These concerns follow the university's previous attempt to build a $700 million, 27-acre Creekside development. That project, which would have included a hotel and restaurants, was met with significant pushback before Samford ultimately dropped the plan.

However, city officials stress that this current iteration is much more contained. During a recent city council work session, zoning administrator Conrad Garrison assured the public that the commission has focused heavily on environmental safety. "We’ve worked with them to really ensure that the creek will not be impacted. There should be no salamander impacts," Garrison stated. "This project is designed to be as self-contained as possible…It meets all city requirements."

Moving Forward

Coyne emphasized that the university is listening to resident feedback, noting that drainage is being addressed and that traffic on Lakeshore Parkway should actually decrease because the project lacks external amenities that would draw in the general public.

Support for the plan isn't limited to university officials. Local resident Mario Nieves expressed his backing, citing the need for more on-campus options to combat skyrocketing local apartment prices. "The college experience should be on campus, in my opinion," Nieves said. "I fully support this. Samford needs dorm rooms for their students."

The Homewood City Council is expected to review the proposal in the coming weeks.