Birmingham Mayor William Bell said he will present his plan to pay for the $40 million Ensley public safety municipal complex to the City Council next month.

The Bethel Ensley Action Task Inc. (BEAT) is also working to raise $24.6 million for an adjacent mixed-use development called Ensley Junction to complement the city's plan to help revitalize downtown Ensley.

In November, Bell announced a $40 million plan to move municipal court, police, and fire headquarters to Ensley. As a part of this plan, the 10-story historic Ramsay McCormack Building in downtown Ensley would be rehabilitated.

Additional buildings as well as a parking deck would have to be constructed to accommodate the city departments.

BEAT is now releasing its plans for Ensley Junction.

The development will include a 48-unit apartment complex called Ensley Flats, 16,500 square feet of Class-A commercial space and redevelopment of the 24,000-square-foot Jefferson County Western Health Clinic, said BEAT Executive Director Frank Dominic.

The health clinic at the corner of 17th Street and Avenue E in Ensley, which closed in 2015, will be redeveloped into a community health facility with health and dental services and a business incubator.

The closure of the Jefferson County Western Health Clinic "dramatically impaired

the access residents of western Birmingham had to quality healthcare," stated BEAT's plan for Ensley Junction. "Easily accessible healthcare services that are situated at cross roads of public transportation hubs, similar to Western Health's location, are necessary components in any strategic effort to meaningfully raise the healthcare standards in low-income communities."

A destination park, similar to Birmingham's Railroad Park, is also in the works, according to BEAT. The park will feature walking trails, playground, interactive recreational fountains, concert space and area for food trucks.

Attracting a new bank branch and a pre-kindergarten to downtown Ensley also are part of the preliminary plans.

The proposed three-story Ensley Flats will include one-to-two bedroom apartments that will overlook the park, according to plans.

"This is historic," Dominic said, of the public-private partnership to revitalize Ensley. "We will be able to change Ensley forever."

Dominic said the projects will be a catalyst for bringing people back to downtown Ensley.

BEAT is seeking $6.5 million from the city for Ensley Junction, he said. The rest of the funds will be raised from corporations and foundations and utilizing New Market Tax Credits.

The project requires public support, Dominic said, because the cost to develop is higher than the market price for residential and commercial space in Ensley. He said BEAT is in negotiations now to acquire the needed property in downtown Ensley.

BEAT is working with landscape architect Walter Hood from Berkley, Calif. to develop a destination park for Ensley, he said. The park will have active spaces such as fountains.

During his announcement last year, Bell said the development would help revitalize Ensley and spur residential and retail growth there. It would also solve the problem of trying to find a new location for the out-of-date police headquarters in booming downtown Birmingham, he said.

The Birmingham City Council unanimously approved a resolution supporting the Ensley project on Jan. 24. Council President Johnathan Austin and Councilor LaShunda Scales weren't present for the vote.

The city hired ArchitectureWorks to provide a detailed analysis and construction cost estimate for the Ramsay McCormack building. The study will also determine what offices or courts will fit into the existing building.

In its 25-year history, BEAT has helped to develop 51 affordable housing units including single family homes and rents; a neighborhood park with playground, basketball courts, cook out and reception areas and green spaces; and a new community center adjacent to Bethel A.M.E. Church.