Groundbreaking Ceremony Held for Daniel Payne Legacy Village

March 7, 2011 - PRLog -- Under a blanket of blue skies on the clear cool morning of Saturday, February 19 - a monumental first step was made toward transforming the vision of Daniel Payne Legacy Village into an exciting reality. Heralded by the sound of applause, a handful of shovel-wielding supporters broke ground at the site of the future faith-based mixed-use development located in North Birmingham. Hosted by the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AMEC) and symbolically scheduled during a weekend celebrating the Church’s founding, AMEC representatives led the much-anticipated groundbreaking ceremony in prayer and song under the theme of “Sharing the Vision”. In attendance at the event were Alabama Senator Linda F. Coleman, Administrative Assistant to Mayor William A. Bell – Charles Long, Birmingham City Council Members Roderick Royal and Steven T. Hoyt, Neighborhood Association President Ellen Spencer, and Atlanta, GA-based project developer, Tony Pourhassan.

Already touting the credo “Built on a foundation of faith, hope and prayer” Daniel Payne Legacy Village will revitalize the former site of Daniel Payne College, which has stood virtually dormant since the school closed its doors in 1979. Nestled on 153 breathtaking acres of Southern Pine trees, rolling hills and lush wetlands, the property has remained in the AME Church’s hands ever since the school’s closure as they sought the best possible use for the land. The original concept of local church leader Bishop James Levert Davis and owner of TyCam Development Tony Pourhassan – plans for The Daniel Payne Legacy Village include a community comprised of a beautiful church retreat complete with lodging and conference facilities at the development’s core. Recreational space, more than 50 acres of green space providing beautiful park-like surroundings, and a bungalow residential neighborhood of nearly 120+ single-family homes will encircle the retreat. Handsomely constructed office space and a retail center will serve as the face of the Village along Daniel Payne Road, making this a truly innovative “Live, Work, Play, Pray” community.

“This is one of the most awe-inspiring projects I’ve ever had the pleasure of being a part of,” insists Pourhassan. “Having designed and constructed award-winning family-centered developments in the past, it is truly inspirational when you consider the impact a development like Daniel Payne Legacy Village could have on the entire North Birmingham community.  While it, too, will be family-centered – by blending a mixed-use concept with an entirely new faith-based model, it brings new meaning to the word ‘groundbreaking.’ Bishop Davis, the AMEC Elders, and their congregations are leading the way to a better and brighter future for the notion of a neighborhood.”

It was apparent that the feeling of community was already alive and well at the building site on the morning of the groundbreaking ceremony. Proponents for the $24 million project look forward to beginning construction of Daniel Payne Legacy Village in Spring 2011.

About TyCam Development, Inc.:  The Atlanta-based design-develop-build firm, TyCam Development, Inc. is the parent company of Highlight Homes, LLC, Highlight Home Restoration, and Vesmont, LC. Over the course of 25 years, its president, Tony Pourhassan, has built more than 800 Single Family Homes and more than 200 Townhomes across 20 subdivisions in the state of Georgia. He’s been instrumental in the development of 12 communities, with three more exciting subdivisions in the works. He has taken steps to streamline his industry by successfully implementing cost code accounting to accurately track construction & development costs, spearheading green building & development programs, and assembling countless talented teams to take projects from concept to successful completion. Tony is also no stranger to working with public officials, lawyers, residents, & engineers to rezone property, as well as acquiring & assembling due diligence materials to secure equity investors and bank loans for company projects, and partnering with local schools, charities & civic organizations to raise money or donate labor & materials to give back to the community. He is a Certified Professional Home Builder and is a member of the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association, the National Association of Home Builders, the National Association of General Contractors, and the US Green Building Council. Tony has received countless awards for his designs. He was raised in Alabama, and is a proud graduate of Auburn University – where he received his Bachelors of Science in Architecture with a Minor in Structural Engineering.

About African Methodist Episcopal Church: The AMEC grew out of the Free African Society (FAS) and was established in Philadelphia in 1787. It has since grown to encompass more than 2 million members, 8,000 ministers, and 7,000 congregations in more than 30 nations in North and South America, Africa, and Europe. The 9th Episcopal District of the AMEC covers the state of Alabama, and is comprised of 275 AME congregations representing more than 20,000 members of the denomination. The 9th Episcopal District is currently presided over by Bishop James Levert Davis, a fifth generation African Methodist Episcopal Minister. Bishop Davis has pastored in Alabama and Georgia over his 40-year span of pastoral ministry. During that time, he has been responsible for spearheading many dynamic programs and projects to better serve the people of the community including the development of Big Bethel Village in Southwest Atlanta, and the purchase and development of more than 20 pieces of property in the “Auburn Renaissance” in one of Atlanta’s oldest black communities.