Site preparation work begins today at the former Southtown Court public housing site in Birmingham for the next phase in a sprawling multi-use project.

Officials say the site work will clear the way for construction to begin on the first planned commercial projects in the Edgehill at Southtown Court development.

The complex is a mixed-use project that includes retail, a new biotech center and a hotel on University Boulevard near 24th Street. It should take shape over the next seven years.

The $17 million Southtown Family at Edgehill opened last November.

Work is currently ongoing for a $39 million, 143-unit senior building, which will also serve many former Southtown Court residents.

Robert Simon, CEO of CR Endeavors, one of the project’s development companies, said planners are in the process of finalizing designs for the first projects up for construction.

“When completed, they will bring new outpatient medical, general office space, hospitality, housing, food and retail services to complement and enhance the assets already located on Birmingham’s Southside, especially its biomedical research presence at Southern Research,” Simon said.

The first building is expected to be a 150,000-square-foot building that will house an accelerator for biomedical businesses, the cornerstone of the planned Birmingham Biomedical Innovation Corridor.

Construction is also expected to begin in coming months on a 175-room hotel with a rooftop bar and curated food service.

The development ultimately is expected to contain 600,000 square feet of commercial space for the biomedical innovation corridor, with about half of that devoted to research and development facilities. The rest will be available for tenants and outpatient medical office space.

Other plans for the site include 50,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, and about 250 residential apartment units.

“The vision is to create a vibrant, multi-dimensional and inclusive community where people can live, work, shop, eat, relax and play,” Simon said.

Other development partners include The Benoit Group, BREC Development and SPM Property Management.

Others involved in master planning, design, and consulting included Gensler, Brasfield & Gorrie, and A.G. Gaston Construction.

Stirling Properties is handling retail leasing for the site.