Earlier this month, the Homewood Planning Commission voted unanimously recommending that the Homewood City Council put to vote and approve Samford’s plan to build two new residence halls, south of Lakeshore Drive.
These plans follow more than a year after Samford made the decision to withdraw their plans for the heavily debated Creekside development, which was intended to be constructed south of Lakeshore.
After the planning commission meeting, Colin Coyne, Samford’s Vice President for Finance and Business affairs, said, “This is not Creekside 2.0 or any derivative thereof, nor is it an expansion of our campus,” responding to questioning community members.
“What it is simply, is student housing on Samford’s South Campus, next to our existing track and field complex, which is not going to go anywhere.”
Creekside, announced in March 2025, proposed a 27-acre mixed-use development across Lakeshore Drive. Plans included Samford-affiliated housing, restaurants, retail, a hotel and a conference center. This was intended to create a district intended to serve both the university and Homewood community.
South Campus has a narrower purpose. The current proposal includes two six-story residential buildings, limited retail and approximately 920 parking spaces.
“The other thing that I think is important to remember is right now for our students, you have parking with every single new bed that comes on,” Coyne said. “So, it’s not just building dorms, it’s building parking as well.”
The news proposal follows a turbulent approval process for the Creekside Development in the spring of 2025. Residents raised concerns about traffic, stormwater, tree removal, wildlife and the environmental effects of development near Shades Creek. Though the Planning Commission recommended Creekside for approval, Samford later withdrew its applications.
The Creekside Development website remains active, with a disclaimer stating that the development team withdrew the applications “to prioritize on-campus Samford University projects.”
The site still links to information about the original proposal and provides contact information for state and local representatives.
The disclaimer also says Samford will continue focusing on its “multiphase master development plan for campus improvements”
Although Samford makes clear that South Campus and Creekside are separate projects, some concerns raised during the earlier Creekside debate are still relevant to the new development.
Residents still question potential effects involving stormwater runoff and traffic. While eliminating Creekside’s hotel, conference center and larger commercial component changes the scale and purpose of the development, it does not altogether eliminate concerns that come with building on the land south of Lakeshore.
For now, the projects also differ in where they stand in the development process.
“Obviously we appreciate the Planning Commission’s 7-0 vote,” Coyne said. “I think that sends a great signal that we’re working very closely with the city and the citizens.”
South Campus still requires approval from the Homewood City Council, the stage that the Creekside Development never reached.
Staff Reporter
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