Business

Sherman Industries unlikely to relocate in Five Points West

THE BIRMINGHAM TIMES — After fierce neighborhood opposition, the Jefferson County Department of Health (JCDH) will not issue a permit for Sherman Industries, LLC to relocate to the Five Points West Community.

Published

7 years ago

June 4, 2019

Oakland Post

By Erica Wright

After fierce neighborhood opposition, the Jefferson County Department of Health (JCDH) will not issue a permit for Sherman Industries, LLC to relocate to the Five Points West Community.

JCDH said it has granted a request from Sherman Industries, LLC to place a hold on the air permit needed for the relocation.

City leaders and neighborhood officers, who fought against moving the facility to Five Points West, welcomed the news.

“Sherman Industries’ decision to suspend the air permit request for the Fayette Avenue site is good news for the neighborhood leaders and residents who expressed their concerns about the plant operating in their community,” said Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin in a statement released by the city.

Dora Sims, president of the Five Points West Community, said she was happy that residents were able to make a difference.

“When we come together in a collaborative effort it makes a big statement to let people know what we want in our community . . . people need to know that their voices are very powerful in terms of what they want in their neighborhoods,” said Sims.

She pointed out that a number of groups in the surrounding West End communities and organizations such as Saving Our Neighborhoods united to oppose the concrete batch company.

“It’s all a big win for everyone when we come together in a collaborative effort, working together in a positive sense and making a difference for where we live,” said Sims.

City Officials Opposed

Sims also thanked Woodfin and the council for their support.

“Mayor Woodfin came to our meetings and told us he was on our side and he was going to make certain this did not come to Five Points West,” she said. “Also all of the city council coming together to work and . . . that all nine members of the council rallied to support our councilor [Steven Hoyt] and the mayor means a lot.”

In a statement released by the Birmingham City Council, Hoyt said, “It takes a collective effort to move our community forward and today is a day we can all be proud of. I’d like to thank Mayor Randall Woodfin for his leadership, and also the representatives of Sherman Industries for hearing our concerns about the location of this proposed development.”

Hoyt, who has been a vocal opponent of the move, said he will continue his efforts to get the property rezoned to not allow that type of company to relocate in the area.

“As elected leaders, we have a moral obligation to fight for our people,” he said. “While this is move in the right direction, we need to continue to make sure the residents of Five Points West and surrounding areas are protected from any future efforts to place heavy industry in our blossoming community.”

Earlier this month, the Birmingham City Council passed a resolution opposing the relocation of the facility to Five Points West and Woodfin also expressed his disagreement with the facility moving.

The city’s statement said the mayor has been clear in his support of the residents. “The city will work jointly to find an appropriate location for the Sherman Industries plant whether it be in Birmingham or the region,” the statement said. “This must be an ongoing inclusive effort which includes the public, the city, JCDH, and the company. The mayor is committed to keeping the concerns of the neighborhoods in the forefront and will keep them informed of any additional developments in this matter.”

The health department said a public hearing and information meeting scheduled for June 6 at the Birmingham CrossPlex about the move has been cancelled.

Residents Speak Against

Last month, Sherman Industries, LLC had requested to place a concrete batch plant at 3420 Fayette Avenue in Five Points West. That would have replaced the existing facility on Second Avenue South, which has been in operation since the 1950s.

Many neighborhood leaders and residents expressed their concern over the facility moving to their community.

“We on the western side of town, do not welcome Sherman Industries to our community . . . our health is very important just like yours and theirs,” Walladean Streeter, president of the Bush Hills neighborhood told the council earlier this month. “They show no concern to the citizens of the western area and we’re very upset about that because we are human… and they’re bringing the problems to us. We have children all around that area, we have new restaurants coming and the smoke, the dust goes right out there to them. We need you and we’re asking you to support us in every way that you can to stop that from happening.”

At that same council meeting, April Williams, a resident of the Bush Hills Neighborhood, said there is nothing good about a cement plant being in a high-dense residential area. “I’m not proposing it being in any residential area, but if it’s not good for Railroad Park and that area, surely we all agree it’s not good for CrossPlex and the Five Points West area.”

Efforts to reach a spokesman with Lehigh Hanson Inc., of which Sherman Industries is a subsidiary, for comment were unsuccessful.

However in a statement reported by AL.com, Jeff Sieg, of Leigh Hanson, said the company is still working with the city.

“Sherman Industries has been working closely with the City of Birmingham regarding our proposed concrete batch plant at Fayette Ave. The company intends to continue this approach in an effort to improve the city’s and the community’s understanding of the scope of our project and to attempt to identify a mutually acceptable solution at Fayette Avenue in Five Points West, or possibly an equally viable location,” Sieg said in the statement.

This article originally appeared in The Birmingham Times .

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Oakland Post: Week of May 6 – 12, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of may 6 – 12, 2026

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Up to the Job: How San Francisco’s PRC Is Providing Work Opportunities That Turn Into Lasting Stability

Each year, PRC serves more than 5,000 clients through a wide range of programs. These include housing navigation, legal advocacy to ensure access to health and public benefits, supportive housing, job and life-skills training, and residential treatment programs.

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3 weeks ago

April 26, 2026

Oakland Post

Black Leadership Council (BLC) Advocacy Day in Sacramento. BLC works to advance meaningful change through policy engagement to unlock the full potential of Black and low-income communities. Photo courtesy of PRC.

By Joe Kocurek, California Black Media

Seville Christian arrived in San Francisco in the 1990s from Kansas City, Mo., a transgender woman coming from a time and place still hostile to who she was.

San Francisco offered a deeper LGBTQ+ history and a more visible community of people like her, but even in a city known for acceptance, building a stable life from scratch was no small task.

After arriving in the city, she turned to Positive Resource Center (PRC) looking for work — and for a foothold — in a new place.

“PRC gave me my first job,” Christian said. “A simple gig — passing out magazines at the San Francisco Pride Parade.”

That first opportunity marked the beginning of a decades-long relationship with PRC, one that has seen Christian grow from client to valued employee, and eventually to policy fellow.

“Today, I’ve been with PRC for 27 years, going on 28,” she said.

Seville Christian’s decades-long relationship with PRC includes as a client, fellow and beloved employee. Photo courtesy of PRC.

Helping people access employment and build sustainable careers has been a cornerstone of PRC’s mission since its inception nearly four decades ago. In its most recent annual impact report, PRC served 443 clients through workforce development services, including career counseling, educational programs, hands-on training, and job search assistance. The average wage earned by PRC clients is $26.48 per hour — approximately 38% above San Francisco’s minimum wage.

To advance this work, organizations like PRC have benefited from funding through California’s Stop the Hate Program, which provides direct support to community-based organizations leading anti-hate initiatives.

Christian’s path was not without challenges. During some rocky years, she experienced periods of housing instability and struggled with addiction. Through PRC, she enrolled in a life-skills program that emphasized using her own lived experience as a means of helping others. The program helped set her on a path toward completing an associate’s degree and ultimately launching a career in case management.

“Today, whether someone is new to the city or has lived here their whole life, I know how to help them navigate to where they need to be,” Christian said.

Members of PRC’s Black Leadership Council meet with a lawmaker in Sacramento. Photo courtesy of PRC.

While PRC was founded to serve people living with HIV, its mission has expanded over the decades to meet the needs of people with disabilities, individuals experiencing homelessness, and those facing mental health and substance use challenges.

According to PRC’s Chief of Public Policy and Public Affairs, Tasha Henneman, some of the organization’s earliest programs remain as vital today as they were at the start.

“Our emergency financial assistance program helped more than 1,200 people this year pay rent, cover medical bills, and keep the lights on,” Henneman said. “And over 1,400 people reached out for legal advocacy, resulting in more than $2.5 million in retroactive benefits unlocked.”

Beyond direct services, PRC is deeply committed to community empowerment and policy change. Programs such as the Black Leadership Council support community leaders in advocating for systemic reform, while the Black Trans Initiative focuses on addressing the unique challenges faced by Black transgender individuals.

A recent study from the Williams Institute highlighted findings that 71% of transgender homicide victims in the U.S. between 2010 and 2021 were Black and that nearly a third of the transgender homicides during that period were confirmed or suspected hate crimes.

PRC’s direct and indirect services can be a lifeline for people experiencing hate and are an example of the resources people can get connected with through the state’s CA vs Hate hotline.

PRC is now also producing a film project that centers the lived experiences of Black trans clients, including individuals like Christian.

PRC welcomed guests to their annual Open House in April, an evening dedicated to connection, reflection, and learning more about the programs and people working every day to support San Franciscans experiencing housing instability, unemployment, and behavioral health challenges. Photo courtesy of PRC.

“Our film highlights the health journeys and lived experiences of some of PRC’s Black trans clients,” Henneman said. “Our goal is to give voice, visibility, and agency to the participants — and to bring their stories, both harrowing and inspirational, to policymakers and the broader public.”

The film, expected to be released later this year, is directed by Yule Caise, with assistant director Zarina Codes, a Black transgender San Francisco resident.

Today, Christian continues her relationship with PRC as an ambassador, reflecting on a journey that began with a single job opportunity and grew into a lifelong commitment to service.

“Sometimes I’ll be riding the bus or standing in a grocery store, and someone will come up to me from a women’s shelter,” she said. “They’ll say, ‘Oh, Miss Seville, I just want to thank you. You really helped me with what I was dealing with.’”

She paused, smiling.

“And in those moments,” Christian said, “I think to myself, “Well!.”

A single word that sums up pride in a journey to find the best in herself.

Get Support After Hate:

California vs Hate is a non-emergency, multilingual hotline and online portal offering confidential support for hate crimes and incidents. Victims and witnesses can get help anonymously by calling 833-8-NO-HATE (833-866-4283), Monday to Friday, 9 a.m.–6 p.m. PT, or online at any time. Anonymous. Confidential. No Police. No ICE.

This story was produced in partnership with CA vs Hate. Join them for the first-ever CA Civil Rights Summit on May 11, 2026. More information at www.cavshate.org/summit.