BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – The Birmingham City Council has approved the sale of 25 acres along Barber Motorsports Parkway for a new karting facility that developers say will include both training and entertainment elements.
City leaders said the land at the Grand River Technology Park has sat undeveloped for about eight years, and they believe the area’s existing automotive connections will help support the project.
“When people hear go-kart racing, they think something more gimmicky or for children, state fairground type. This is not that,” Councilman Hunter Williams said.
Developers said the facility is intended to serve casual fans and more competitive racers, pointing to Alabama’s racing and automotive communities.
“Alabama has a really big racing community that not everybody knows of, and a really big automobile community,” Ethan Shaw of OWENR and BK Propco said. “So this is a really good opportunity next to Barber Motorsports to have this kind of facility.”
Williams said many drivers start and train on go-karts before moving into IndyCar or Formula 1.
Developers described the facility as unique to the Southeast, and city leaders said they expect it to bring an economic boost by drawing visitors to the area.
Birmingham City Council approves land sale for racing training karting facility near Barber Motorsports Park(WBRC)
“I think that we can point to how this will be successful with the Mercedes school that’s out there already, the Porsche school that’s out there already,” Williams said, adding that those programs bring employees and visitors to Birmingham.
Developers said the plans also include an entertainment aspect for families.
“It’s there next to the current race track, it’s next to Grand River shops, and it will spur other investments,” Rob Wolfe, business manager for BK Propco, said. “It’s a location for families to go for activities.”
The city is not providing any economic incentive for the project. Leaders said they hope to break ground next spring.
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