Tuscaloosa To Consider Incentives For Redevelopment Of Former McFarland Mall Property

TUSCALOOSA, AL — The Tuscaloosa City Council's Finance Committee will consider an incentives package next week that could see the long-blighted former McFarland Mall property redeveloped into a mixed-use development by the property owner and developer Stan Pate.

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As Patch previously reported, the revitalization of the McFarland Mall property, owned by Pate since 2009, has been a longstanding talking point in local circles.

Dubbed "Encore" by Pate as a kind of follow-up to his wildly successful role in the conceptualization and buildout of Midtown Village, the exact details of the incentives package have not been finalized as of the publication of this story.

However, city officials and Pate both confirmed to Patch that the request will only ask for tax abatements from revenue generated from businesses attracted to the property.

For the city's proposed role, there will be no requests for bond issuances or taxpayer dollars up-front.

"Today, it’s vacant land," Pate told Patch. "But it's going to be a mixed-use development. There will be no residential component. A lot of people haven't understood the project but you can't redevelop a site until you can clear off the site. Dollar Tree’s lease expires two years from now. I didn’t do the lease but I’m honoring it."

Pate and city leaders also insist that the redevelopment of the property regardless of the businesses lured, will be a major catalyst in efforts to reinvigorate the Skyland Boulevard corridor as more attention is given to the southern part of the city.

As Patch previously reported, Pate had most of the remaining former mall outlets demolished in late February 2023 as he initially mulled over developing a youth sports tournament facility on the property before the idea was ultimately abandoned.

District 7 Councilor Cassius Lanier also expressed his excitement for the project, telling Patch that the Encore development is sure to reshape the heart of his district and one of the city's busiest intersections.

"Through many discussions with [Pate], we were able to finalize a performance based incentives plan that does not require a single upfront dollar from the city," he said. "This project will enhance the front door of our city and stimulate growth in south Tuscaloosa and the city’s southern corridor for decades to come.”

The next meeting of the Tuscaloosa City Council's Finance Committee is scheduled for for 3:15 p.m. Tuesday, April 23.

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