HOOVER, Ala. (WIAT) -- Tuesday afternoon Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato delivered his 2025 State of the City address before members of the Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce.
Mayor Brocato’s address touched on a variety of topics, including decreasing crime, improving schools, and business growth in the city. He also revealed that the city of Hoover is going to help pay for an assessment study of the Riverchase Galleria.
The study will evaluate various factors such as the potential for redevelopment, current market conditions, and provide recommendations for revitalizing the Galleria. Brocato said while the Galleria is still a thriving mall, they realize change needs to take place on that property.
“There are probably eight different owners at the Riverchase Galleria, so we’ve got an all-in now everybody’s excited about doing the study to see what the future looks like for the Riverchase Galleria,” Brocato remarked.
“There will be a group effort, the city will contribute to it as well as we’ll have a number of partners and it’s about a $200,000 cost to do that study.”
Brocato also spoke about creation of Riverwalk Village, a 90-acre mixed-use community that will be located in Riverchase. It will include an ambulatory center that the city will manage through its Hoover Health Care Authority. Vertical construction should start in early 2026.
The mayor also touched on the significance the new interchange project, Exit 9, that he said is important to Bessemer, Helena, Western Hoover and parts of Birmingham. The $120 million project will be 50/50 split with ALDOT according to Brocato.
Mayor Brocato has said he plans to run for a third term in August.