Real Estate Transactions & Development

Miscellaneous

1. UAB is planning to build a new Science and Engineering Complex costing $78.5 million. There will be 145,784 square feet of space for teaching, laboratories and offices, according to UAB University Relations. The new complex will replace the current Education Building on 14th Street South between University Boulevard and 10th Avenue South. A notice to proceed was issued Feb. 1. Asbestos abatement and demolition of the existing Education Building should be complete by May with new construction to start immediately following demolition. The project should be complete by the summer of 2023.

2. Corporate Realty in Birmingham — under the name Northside Redevelopment L.L.C. — is  planning to redevelop the old Carraway Hospital site in Norwood. Robert Simon, CEO and president of Corporate Realty, said in a statement Dec. 29 that demolition will begin in the spring. This announcement followed a vote by the Birmingham City Council to grant the developer up to $13.2 million in incentives. Corporate Realty plans residential, hotel, retail, office and entertainment uses at the 41.5-acre site at an estimated cost of $340 million. 

3. Atlanta developer Tellus Partners announced plans last fall to redevelop the 30-story AT&T City Center at 600 19th St. N. downtown as a mixed-use facility, according to media reports. Also known as the South Central Bell Building, the vintage structure was named to the National Register of Historic Places in December, according to the Alabama Historical Commission. It was built in 1971. The developers purchased the building in 2018.

4. IN8bio, a biotech company at the Innovation Depot, will move into its own space in the Martin Biscuit building in Pepper Place by the end of 2021, according to Birmingham Business Journal. Currently in the concept and design phase, IN8bio plans to build out lab space in addition to office, conference and investors space, the BBJ reports.

5. The renovation of the historic Masonic Temple at 319 17th St. N. in the Historic 4th Avenue Business District downtown is taking shape, according to the Urban Impact newsletter. The Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge, F. & A. M. of Alabama, and Historic District Developers have launched a website at historicdistrictdevelopers.com. Plans include a complete renovation and preservation of the historic building’s interior and exterior.

6. Orchestra Partners recently broke ground on Urban Supply, a mixed-use redevelopment of several vintage warehouses at the west end of Birmingham’s Parkside district, according to a release from the developer. The first phase will feature a mix of pop-up tenants, including Cahaba Cycles and Garage Sale, and a full calendar of outdoor community events. Cahaba Cycles, an independently owned Birmingham bicycle shop, will set up its first ever pop-up in April. Garage Sale, a throwback retail concept inspired by vintage shopping, should open in April. To activate The Aisle — a two-block outdoor space — Orchestra Partners will partner with local businesses to host a series of COVID-safe outdoor events this spring: Magic City Marketplace (April 3, May 8), Grub on the Lot (April 10, May 15), the Chicken and Beer Festival (April 16) and The Final Toast (April 24).

Construction Update

7. Work is underway on a new build-to-suit warehouse for Ferguson Enterprises — a distributor of residential and commercial plumbing supplies — in Avondale Commerce Park at 101 39th St. N., said a spokesperson for Cushman & Wakefield/EGS Commercial Real Estate Inc. Cushman & Wakefield announced in November that it had entered into a long-term lease agreement with Ferguson and would develop the facility, which will measure about 67,000 square feet. Construction should take about 12 months.

8. Construction is underway on Phase 3 of the 20 Midtown mixed-use development that takes up an entire block between Second Avenue South and Third Avenue South and 20th Street South and Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. downtown. The project will include parking, more than 300 residential units and about 50,000 square feet of retail space, according to media reports. The first two phases of the development at the intersection of 20th Street and Third Avenue South include a Publix, a Starbucks and a Chipotle Mexican Grill. The developers are Dick Schmalz of RGS Properties and Scott Bryant of Scott M. Bryant & Co. 

9. Orchestra Partners, a Birmingham development firm, is nearing completion of construction for Mercantile on Morris, its newest project downtown. The developers recently finished work on the first residential units, and the pedestrian plaza with retail and public areas should be complete in the spring. Located at 2212 Morris Avenue, the project will feature access from both First Avenue North and Morris Avenue, and the pedestrian plaza with storefronts will connect the two streets. The company also announced in January that Bridge + Root, a fashion shop for men, will be the first retailer to open in the mixed-use development. 

10. Work is underway on a project in Avondale from The Dobbins Group, a Birmingham real estate investment firm. The firm is investing $16.5 million in a 96-unit multifamily residential project at 4211 and 4241 Third Ave. S. The project will consist of two buildings containing 48 units each and should be completed by fall 2021. Thornton Ratliff of the Dobbins Group called Avondale one of Birmingham’s “fastest growing, most desirable neighborhoods” when construction began in August. “The influx of breweries, restaurants, music venues, office space and community gathering areas the last 10 years has made it prime for new multi-family development,” he said.

11. Construction continues on Lakeview Green, a large mixed-use project located at 2901 Fourth Ave. S. in the Lakeview area. The development is at the site of the former Davis School, about a block away from Pepper Place. The project will include residential units, retail, restaurants and a large public green space.

12. Work continues on an 18-month expansion and renovation project at Legacy Arena. The facility was closed for construction beginning April 2. Expected completion is set for late 2021. The renovation will cost about $100 million.

13. Construction is underway at Protective Stadium, an open-air facility at the BJCC that will cost about $175 million. The facility should be finished in time for UAB football in fall 2021.

14. The new $19.2 million UAB Technology Innovation Center is under construction at 17th Street South and Ninth Avenue South. The center, measuring 40,000 square feet, will house campus internet connectivity and technology infrastructure. At press time, construction was 98% complete, with furniture installation, interior finishes and final inspections and certifications underway, according to UAB University Relations. The project was to be completed in March. 

15. Renovation work continues at the historic Carver Theatre, now known as the Carver Performing Arts Center, at 1631 Fourth Ave. N. downtown. The former movie house, built in 1935, is also home to the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame, which manages the facility. Studio 2H Design is the architect and interior designer on the project, and Stone Building is the general contractor.

16. Construction of the new $60 million Residence Hall 2020 at UAB on 10th Avenue South between 16th and 17th Streets is nearing completion, according to UAB University Relations. The dorm will accommodate 720 undergraduates.

17. Work continues on a new $25 million arts campus for Red Mountain Theatre Company. The campus is located at 1600 Third Ave. S. adjacent to Regions Field. LIVE Design Group are the architects. Brasfield & Gorrie is the general contractor. At press time, the RMTC staff had begun taking occupancy of portions of the facility, including the administrative offices, according to a spokesperson. 

18. In the fall, UAB completed the interior renovation of the laboratories on the eighth and ninth floors in the McCallum Basic Science Building at 1918 University Blvd., as well as the installation of metal panels on the exterior of the eighth and ninth floors. Installation of metal panels on the exterior of floors two through seven is underway and is nearing completion, according to UAB University Relations. Completion is scheduled for September.

Openings/Closures 

19. North Italia, an Italian restaurant known for its handcrafted cuisine and cocktails, opened its first Alabama location on March 3 at 225 Summit Blvd., Suite 1100, in The Summit, according to a news release from the eatery. It is one of the chain’s 23 locations in the United States. The 5,378 square-foot restaurant features an open kitchen that overlooks the dining room and bar,and seats nearly 300 guests indoors and on the patio. The menu features such items as antipasti, salads, pastas and wood-fired pizzas.

20. Spoon & Ladle — a specialty food company that distributes its soups to grocery stores and formerly operated a storefront in the Pizitz Food Hall — is ceasing operations, according to a news release from the company. The company, led by husband and wife Monty and Kelly Todd, began in 2014 and operated its stall at The Pizitz until June 2020. The couple is retiring. 

The company ceased production at the end of February. Product will be available in stores until the inventory runs out.

21. The Birmingham Public Library and its Board of Trustees hosted a dedication ceremony for the new Wylam Branch Library the second week of February, according to a BPL news release. The old Wylam Library, at 4300 Seventh Ave. in Wylam, closed in May 2019 and was demolished. The former 2,000-square-foot building was replaced by a 6,000-square-foot library facility with extra amenities, including a meeting room and bigger space for children’s and adults programming. The project cost $1.6 million. 

22. Architect Jared Fulton opened Commonplace, a 3,000-square-foot space in Woodlawn for use by creatives, a few months ago, according to a recent news release from REV Birmingham. The rental facility has up to 10 affordable studios and work spaces for artists, crafters, designers and other creatives. The facility also has an open gallery space and a woodworking shop. Fulton seeks to showcase creators and host community events and exhibitions.

Coming Soon 

23. Woodlawn Street Market plans a full 2021 season of five events, according to a news release from REV Birmingham. The markets will be designed to allow for social distancing. The dates are as follows: April 10, June 12, Aug. 14, Oct. 16 and Dec. 12. All events will be held on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., except for the December event, to be held on a Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Vendor applications are being accepted at surveymonkey.com/r/WSM2021vendor.