Hoover, AL [9/22/25] In September 2024, Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato commissioned a study that would evaluate the market feasibility and deliver a redevelopment strategy for Central Hoover, with a focus on the Riverchase Galleria, collectively referred to as “The Galleria Campus.” Hunden Partners, a highly reputable real estate development firm based in Chicago, IL, conducted the study.
Today, Monday, September 22, 2025, members of Hunden Partners came to Hoover to present the findings of their six-month study to the Hoover City Council. Their analysis highlights the opportunity to reimagine The Galleria Campus as a vibrant, walkable city center for Hoover, showcasing development scenarios and practical steps to bring the vision to life.
The city would like to thank the Hunden Partners team for contributing their expertise to this foundational study. The City also thanks its project funding partners: Jim Wilson & Associates, Brookfield Properties, Associa McKay Management, and Hyatt Regency Birmingham – The Wynfrey Hotel.
“We’re excited to see what the next phase of the Galleria will look like,” Mayor Brocato said Monday. “We understood that before Brookfield Properties or any developer undertook the mammoth task of redeveloping one of our city’s most important assets, they needed to understand what the Hoover market would and could bear, what businesses would thrive best in our unique city. This study was a foundational step that needed to take place before we move forward, and I feel confident it lays the groundwork for informed decisions that will ensure the future success of the Galleria Campus and the city.”
After considering the various market indicators, such as the mall’s history, current visitors to the site, sales tax generation, mall perception, and the overall Hoover-Birmingham metropolitan landscape, Hunden Partners recommended a two-part redevelopment on the south side of the Riverchase Galleria site.
Phase One is a smaller-scale redevelopment that includes the following:
- Demolition of the former Sears box
- Construction of:
- 282 apartments
- 28,000 square feet of retail
- 1,100-seat center for the arts
- 25,000-square-foot public plaza & greenspace
Phase Two is a full build-out of the redevelopment with additional residential and retail space that includes the following:
- Demolition of the current Macy’s box and adjacent triangular corridor of the mall
- Construction of:
- 260 apartments
- 16,000 square feet of retail
- 19,000-square-foot public plaza & greenspace
While the overall projected costs to implement the Huden Partner recommendations are roughly $240 million, this conceptual redevelopment project would generate an estimated $396 million in net new spending, $74 million in net new earnings, 156 full- time equivalent jobs, and $9.2 million in new city taxes over a 10-year period.
If no redevelopment occurs, Hunden projects that sales tax generated would continue to decline over the next 10 years. A substantial redevelopment would likely lead to sales tax growth due to higher visitation and new retailers on-site.
You can find a link to the entire study by going to the City’s website at: www.hooveralabama. gov. Information regarding the study is at the bottom of the homepage under the “News and Spotlights” section.