Construction has begun on a senior housing development on the site of the vacated part of the Southtown Court housing community.

Contractor Capstone Building Corp. has initiated work on the Southtown senior housing development on a 26-acre tract between UAB and Ascension St. Vincent’s Birmingham along University Boulevard.

The project is in collaboration with developer The Benoit Group and the Housing Authority of Birmingham District. This project is a part of the City of Birmingham’s Edgehill at Southtown Redevelopment plan.

Southtown Senior is a 143-unit senior and family apartment community for ages 62 and up, comprising 158,384 square feet. Units will be available in one- and two-bedroom floor plans.

There will be a business center and community lounge for residents, an exercise room, onsite storage, off-street parking and Wi-Fi. Tenants will have access to monthly arts and crafts, blood pressure screening and holiday festivities at least four times each year.

The overall development plan is focused on positioning Southtown residents for employment opportunities at St. Vincent’s Hospital and UAB.

“Capstone Building Corp. is proud to have been selected as the multi-family contractor for this development by The Benoit Group and the Birmingham Housing Authority,” Michael Hendrickson, vice president of pre-construction and estimating at Capstone Building Corp. “Southtown Senior will provide an impactful mark on the revitalization of Birmingham’s Southtown area.”

The overall development will include 850,000 square feet of office and commercial space, with room for retail and restaurants.

The new development on the site of Southtown will include up to 560 housing units, equally divided between federally subsidized housing and market-rate rentals. The initial plans called for 220 subsidized units.

The plan also calls for green space including “pocket parks” and a buffer along the west side of Red Mountain Expressway.

The family building will consist of 60 midrise apartments, anchored by a 4,000-square-foot clubhouse.