On June 16, 2026 the Tuscaloosa City Council will consider a tax incentive of  $5.75M  to Delaney Group LLC for a commercial development that will consume one fifth of  Springbrook Neighborhood, just west of McFarland Blvd. We oppose the tax incentive plan for the following reasons:

First,  a commercial development in Springbrook neighborhood meets no community need and provides little benefit to the city and its taxpayers.  The first three probable tenants are a fast-food restaurant, a drive-thru coffee shop, and an automotive service, adding competition for the same types of  businesses already in plentiful supply in the busy McFarland Blvd. corridor.  Our inventory of  commercial properties one mile north and south of the Springbrook site off McFarland Blvd. reveals

• • 28 restaurants
  • 15 automotive services
  • 14 vacant or for sale/lease properties
• With many businesses on McFarland similar to those proposed, there is no need for an incentive to add more. Indeed, tax incentives will provide an unfair advantage in this competitive market.
• The jobs associated with the proposal are mainly low-paying service-sector jobs for which Tuscaloosa already struggles to meet demand.
•  The proposal is incomplete, with tentative commitments from only three tenants and no timeline for them or the additional three tenants originally proposed to open their doors. Construction could be ongoing for years.
• In fact, if the city gives up $5.75 million in sales taxes, there will be less money in the future to devote to other critical city projects, such as improvements to our roads, sewers, and parks.

Second, the project will have a significant, irreversible negative impact on Springbrook neighborhood.

• The project design is not compatible with the existing neighborhood. One-fifth of Springbrook will be taken to “raw dirt” to prepare for construction, exposing the neighborhood to noise, heat, light, and pollution from McFarland Boulevard.
• The loss of 20 neighborhood homes and their old-growth tree canopy to make way for the yet fully identified businesses to be constructed over an unidentified  timeline will decrease the attractiveness and livability of the neighborhood to existing and future residents.

Please sign this petition to oppose Tuscaloosa City tax incentives for Delaney Property Group to replace one-fifth of Springbrook neighborhood with a commercial development that brings nothing new, needed, or unique to the city.

Then contact your City Council representative and let them know that you oppose the incentives.

Note:  You do not need to make a contribution to Change.org  to sign this petition. After you sign, you may be asked to make a contribution, but that is not required.