BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Birmingham Councilman William Parker said a delayed decision on his request to buy the former Carraway hospital campus is not a solid rejection and he'll continue to press for the project.

Council members said they want to see the numbers when it comes to buying Carraway, and hear other options before voting on Parker's resolution asking Mayor William Bell to negotiate buying the shuttered campus.

Parker calls Carraway the best option for a joint police and fire headquarters, as opposed to a proposal to lease the former Social Security building. He also said the redevelopment of Carraway would be a transformational project for a struggling area in need of a catalyst.

Council members Tuesday put a hold on Carraway talk until Bell next week presents cost comparisons of several options for police and fire headquarters.

"We're willing to entertain and discuss this more, and I encourage the citizens of Norwood and the North Birmingham community to stay involved," Parker told AL.com. "I want to be able to answer each of the council members' questions and concerns and make them comfortable with buying the Carraway property."

While the location for a joint police and fire headquarters remains under discussion and Bell has endorsed the Social Security site, the mayor is open to discussing Carraway's redevelopment.

Parker said his option is the best solution to calls for a new public safety center, as opposed to Bell's proposal to lease space in the former Social Security building for 30 years totaling $139 million.

"It's always better to own and not lease," he said.

Multiple options, mixed opinions:

Among the Council, opinions on Carraway and the Social Security building proposals are strong and mixed. Some council members have distanced themselves from the Social Security proposal while others remain open to option.

Council President Johnathan Austin said Parker's proposal is worth further discussion on costs and feasibility. Austin has previously endorsed the Social Security proposal.

"Before we can entertain moving to any location, we have to be able to have some comparisons," Austin said. "All of these different options will have long-term costs, but we need to look at what's best for the city. We will not be able to have that comparison until we have those numbers."

In addition, Austin said a plan for developing the 53-acre campus must be presented before the city invests money in buying the campus.

"Obviously we don't want to go in and purchase a giant, dilapidated building that comes with no real plan for redevelopment," he said. "If there's a true solid plan that we see can be feasible, I'm will to consider it."

Austin's district includes the Carraway property in Druid Hills. Parker's district includes Norwood, which is right across the street from the hospital.

"It's the largest piece of vacant property in the district I represent, so obviously I'm more concerned about it than anybody," Austin said. "But there has to be a systematic approach to dealing with that site."

The Carraway site is divided into two parcels, with a total value of $5.43 million.

According to Parker's draft analysis, the city could spend $40 million for a redeveloped Carraway site or $50 million-$60 million for a new facility, as opposed to the nearly $139 million over the life of the Social Security building lease.

Other possible options to be discussed include buying a former two-story bank building downtown for about $2 million. Bell has said the 187,000-square-foot building is too small to accommodate both police and fire headquarters.

Parker said the longer Carraway sits darkened, the more it will continue to deteriorate and blight to the surrounding community. The city can choose to allow that blight to remain, or could use his proposal as an opportunity for needed revitalization, Parker said.

"We need to control what the North Birmingham area is going to look like in coming years," he said. "This is our Crossplex. This is our Railroad Park. This is our Regions baseball field."

Councilman Steven Hoyt said there are numerous possibilities for the Carraway site and he could support Parker's proposal for mixed-use. However, he does not agree that the public safety center would work at that location.

"I do believe that a mixed use is paramount for the piece of property, but I don't think the fire department or the police department should be a part of that mixed use," Hoyt said. "I just don't think that building would provide what is needed."

Hoyt said he is also firmly against leasing the former Social Security building, calling the proposal a bad deal for the city. Instead, he wants the city to build a new facility.

When it comes to Carraway, Hoyt said the city should use its resources, including its touted relationships with federal officials, to acquire the property and develop a plan for it.

"There are places where the quality of life is impeded by a lack of development," Hoyt said. "It would seem to me there are a lot of opportunities."

A call for study vs. a call for action:

On the other side, Councilwoman Kim Rafferty opposes buying the property and said the process is being rushed. Rafferty described it as irresponsible for the city to take measures to acquire the massive property or ask the mayor to begin negotiations without first having a plan for the site or firm interest from the owner.

"That's like me driving down the street and pointing to somebody's house and saying, 'I want to buy that house,'" she said. "I do think the Caraway issue was put on speed dial at City Hall and it should have not been. You just can't start screaming and expect sudden results."

Rafferty said she's now inundated with citizen emails seeking her support to buy Carraway. Instead, Rafferty said residents and city leaders should form a taskforce and develop a plan for the property and work with its owner.

"What should be done with Carraway; why the community hasn't said anything; why the property owner hasn't said anything, I don't understand," Rafferty said. "If you have a problem with the property the first person you talk to is the owner of the property, not the government."

Rafferty, who favors the Social Security building proposal for police and fire headquarters, said even that plan needs solid figures before the council makes a decision. But when it comes to the old hospital campus, Rafferty ruled it out as an option, calling it too large to meet the city's needs.

While he's amenable for more discussion, Parker noted that he already presented a conceptual plan that included green space, municipal use and mixed development.

"There are several reports out there and part of the comprehensive plan calls for urban renewal. It's prime real estate right next to the city center," he said. "The time for studying is over with. The time is for action."