MOBILE, Ala. (NBC 15) — Airbus is building a warehouse two miles from its assembly facility on land once owned by the Mobile Housing Authority. It’s located at Raven Dr and Cardinal Dr East north of 1-10 on a 40-acre parcel it is leasing from the Mobile Airport Authority. Last month, Airbus officially opened its third assembly line at Mobile’s Brookley Aeroplex. Airbus says the new logistics center will support the expansion.

“This is going to be a $250 to $300 million project. At this point in time, Airbus has a $5 billion economic impact in this community. That will only grow,” said attorney Doug Anderson during Tuesday’s pre-council meeting.

MAA is asking the city to vacate all rights-of-way at the site or formally give up its public claim to the land and waive the associated fees. The city’s resolution states the vacation fee is $27,068. However, Anderson says the latest calculation is $1.56 per square foot and that the waiver would actually save Airbus $470,000.

“We’ve already paid $357,000 to the city in fees for the demolition and other permits we’ve received for this project. Adding on this fee would mean we’ve got another $800, a total of $800,000 in fees before we even break around,” said Anderson.

The city council did not vote on the request to waive the fees at Tuesday’s council meeting. Anderson says it was to ensure the correct waiver amount was in the documentation. The council could vote on the request at it’s meeting next Tuesday.

The site is located on part of the former Thomas James Place housing complex or what people refer to as “Birdville.” The old boarded up housing units are gone and the roads have also been torn up where Airbus is building. Mayor Spiro Cheriogotis says he supports the fee waiver because the investment Airbus is making is actually a savings to taxpayers.

“I’m excited that we’re turning this over, because, frankly, it’s deferred maintenance and deferred costs that the citizens aren’t going to pay for,” said Cheriogotis.

There are still acres of vacant, blighted buildings that have not been demolished at the complex or at the neighboring RV Taylor complex. Cheriogotis says he’s wants to see the entire area revitalized.

“I’m ready to see it. That’s an area that I’ve ridden through a lot lately, and it can certainly use an uplift,” said Cheriogotis.

Cheriogotis says in addition to Airbus’ project there’s $81 million of planned investment for 241affordable housing units for that area. That includes Maryvale Place, which opened last year, and CJ Small Heights, which broke ground earlier this year.

“I never want to displace people from their neighborhoods, from their communities, and so we’re going to be pouring a lot of money back into that area as a whole to bring residents back, you know, create affordable housing opportunities. We want people living in District Three,” said Cheriogotis.