New industrial site threatens revival of historic Africatown: ‘We have to protect ourselves’

A proposed construction yard in Mobile’s Africatown neighborhood has sparked urgent concern among residents and community advocates, who fear the project could derail the area’s recent momentum as a site of historical and cultural significance. The planned facility, an aggregate yard designed to store materials like limestone and rock for construction, would sit adjacent to an asphalt plant that has long been a source of frustration for locals.

Protecting a Historic Legacy

Joe Womack, a community advocate and co-founder of the Africatown Heritage Preservation Foundation, is leading the pushback against the encroachment. Emphasizing the vulnerability of the neighborhood, Womack stated, “We have to protect ourselves. We know there’s nothing out there to protect us.”

The project, proposed by the Nashville-based firm The Rogers Group, is situated less than a mile from the Old Plateau Cemetery and the forthcoming Africatown Welcome Center. The area is also home to the Africatown Heritage House, which has become one of Mobile County’s most popular museum destinations since opening in 2023.

Ongoing Negotiations and Safety Concerns

The Mobile’s Planning Commission recently held over the Rogers Group’s request, which involves combining roughly 31 acres into a single site, until its June 18 meeting. While representatives for the company did not respond to requests for comment from 205focus.com, attorney Jarrod White noted during the commission hearing that they plan to use a conveyor system with dust suppressant technology to mitigate air quality issues.

Air pollution remains a primary issue for the neighborhood, which has previously been identified as a “poster child” for environmental injustice. Data from Crosswalk Labs shows the census tract containing Africatown emitted nearly 1.6 million metric tons of carbon dioxide in 2025, a figure that highlights long-standing concerns regarding health impacts, including risks linked to cardiac and lung issues as detailed by the National Institutes of Health.

Infrastructure and Future Zoning

Womack expressed relief that the company intends to use barges to ship materials, which would prevent heavy trucks from damaging roads—specifically those leading to the welcome center and the historic cemetery. However, the project remains contentious due to its location within the Africatown Overlay and its proximity to the “Africatown Safety Zone.”

As the neighborhood, founded by survivors of the Clotilda, continues to fight for its preservation, residents remain vigilant. “We need to make sure that thing doesn’t create a hazard or get in the way of the welcome center,” Womack said. “If we don’t keep it intact, it won’t be here in 20 years.”