Tuscaloosa reconsiders scaled-down Sports Illustrated resort plans

Developers have unveiled revised plans for a Sports Illustrated-themed resort in Tuscaloosa, scaling down the original proposal after significant community concerns about traffic, building height, and overall impact. The latest design removes a previously planned 137-room hotel and a second phase with additional towers, limiting buildings to six stories and shifting the focus to timeshare condos and vacation ownership units. Restaurant and retail space has been reduced to around 12,000 square feet, and new amenities include pickleball courts and an events lawn, with enhanced connectivity to local walking trails. Community meetings have allowed residents to voice ongoing concerns, particularly regarding traffic and the project's long-term effects, though some attendees acknowledge improvements in the new proposal. Developers emphasize the project’s potential economic benefits, including the creation of hundreds of permanent resort jobs and up to 1,000 construction jobs if approved. The revised plans are expected to be submitted to the Tuscaloosa City Council within the next month for further consideration.