Commission approves Encompass Health therapy-gym addition at downtown rehabilitation hospital

Kevin, speaking for staff, described a proposal by Gresham Smith on behalf of Encompass Health to build a therapy gym addition and reconfigure the ambulance/patient-transfer and oxygen/generator areas at 1355 Independence Drive in the downtown historic district. Kevin told the commission the 4.34-acre site contains an 80,000-square-foot rehabilitation hospital, that the proposal follows a prior COA decision in 2020, and that staff recommends conditional approval tied to required site plan reviews and permits.

Applicant Veruni Kern (Birmingham, Ala.) attended and said she had no additional comment at the meeting. Kevin noted the submitted plans and property photos and recommended the commission approve the request with the condition that all required permits and site-plan reviews be obtained before construction begins. The commission approved the COA by unanimous vote.

Why it matters: The addition would expand therapy capacity and reconfigure support functions at an existing medical facility in the downtown historic district; staff emphasized compliance with design guidelines and proper permitting prior to construction.

Next steps: Applicant to obtain site plan approvals and building permits and return to staff with final construction documents prior to beginning work.