Stop the Hub at Grants Mill Road

The Cahaba Alliance for Conservation and Sustainability (CACS) is sounding the alarm over the use of a $7.5 million federal Abandoned Mine Lands Economic Revitalization (AMLER) grant to subsidize The Hub at Grants Mill, a proposed luxury housing and commercial development on previously undisturbed forested lands bordering the Cahaba River, one of the most biologically rich and ecologically critical waterways in the United States.

TAKE ACTION NOW!

Map of the proposed site of the Hub

The AMLER program was designed to restore degraded lands harmed by legacy mining, not to underwrite sprawling real estate ventures that threaten irreplaceable natural habitats.

The site in question is in a remote area adjacent to numerous conservation lands along the Cahaba River which is known for hosting more than 130 species of fish and the rare Cahaba lily, which blooms in delicate clusters along the shallow shoals every May and June.

The development violates the intent and spirit of the AMLER program, which requires that projects restore and reclaim land left scarred by abandoned coal mines. The forested land at Grants Mill has long since reforested, serving as a natural wildlife corridor and riparian buffer protecting water quality in the Cahaba. As such, CACS says, this development constitutes a misappropriation of federal reclamation funds.

Beyond its ecological significance, the site is a popular destination for hiking, biking, and nature observation. The development, which includes plans for housing, retail, and commercial infrastructure, would disrupt access to the outdoors and worsen flooding and water pollution in downstream communities. Advocates argue the land could instead serve as a public nature preserve or greenway connector, bolstering community health and tourism while safeguarding environmental integrity.

Take action now to urge the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) and the Alabama Department of Labor to halt the grant disbursement and conduct a full review. Conservation and public interest groups across the state are expected to join CACS in calling for a moratorium on AMLER-funded developments that compromise ecological or recreational assets.

To sign the petition and take action go here: https://forms.gle/XvYdeaMpyj5GyiNN6