By William C. Singleton III
The former Berry School property is officially a part of Vestavia Hills now.
In recent weeks, the city of Vestavia has annexed the 38.5-acre property off Columbiana Road, and the city school board has closed on the sale of the property for $11 million from the Hoover school system.
The property houses a school building, which has been used as a high school, middle school, elementary school and alternative school over the years. The Vestavia Hills city school administration and board still must determine how it will use the building and property.
The school board is holding community meetings to ask residents how to best use its school facilities.
“We wanted to get parent input and community input on what exactly we need to do with our facilities before we make any decisions on what to do with the Berry property,” said Whit McGhee, spokesman for the Vestavia Hills school system.
Two meetings were held in September at the school system’s central office, and four others are scheduled for the following dates:
• Oct. 24, noon, Vestavia Hills High School
• Oct. 27, noon, Pizitz Middle School
• Nov. 1, 6 p.m., Cahaba Heights Elementary School
• Nov. 3, noon, Liberty Park Middle School
The city of Vestavia contributed $2 million toward the purchase price, which also includes a football field, a baseball diamond, a track and tennis courts. City officials are eyeing the athletic portions of the property as recreational areas residents could use until the school system makes more definitive plans.
“A lot of folks in Vestavia like to walk around the track at our high school stadium, so that could be potentially another option” for Berry, McGhee said. “But that’s all to be determined.”
City manager Jeff Downes said the city entered a partnership to purchase the property because city officials understand how important education is to Vestavia Hills. But the partnership also serves a dual purpose.
“Another issue we have in our community is the quantity and quality of our recreational facilities,” Downes said. “So by partnering with the school system, this allows us to have some opportunity to improve our recreational program as well.”
Although it’s likely that the building will be used for a school in the future, when that may take place and whether that includes building a new school or renovating the existing building is anyone’s guess, McGhee said.
“The prevailing opinion seems be that it’s probably going to be a couple of years before we’re really able to maximize the full use of the academic facilities that are there,” he said. “We’re not quite sure yet what exactly is going to go in there. So whatever is determined to go in there will dictate how the building will have to be reconfigured.”
