Downtown Birmingham Real Estate Update February 2020

Miscellaneous

1. The residential units at the Denham Building, a mixed-use redevelopment at 1143 First Ave. S. in Parkside, were nearly all leased at press time, said developer Hank Farmer of Atlanta-based Third & Urban. In addition, Monday Night Brewing of Atlanta is planning an early spring opening at the facility and is “making great progress” on their build-out, Farmer said. The Denham Building project, which measures about 86,000 square feet, includes 59 loft apartments, as well as office and retail space. Construction was completed in August.

2. The Birmingham City Council voted Jan. 7 to set a public hearing for a rezoning request that could lead to a new residential cottage and townhouse development in Woodlawn. The hearing will take place Feb. 4 at 9:30 a.m., during the council’s regular meeting. The five properties to be rezoned are located at 5984, 6004 and 6012 Georgia Road and 200 and 216 61st St. S. The zoning would be changed from R-4, two-family and semi-attached dwelling district, and R-5, multiple dwelling district, to D-5, multiple dwelling district. “I think it’s a great opportunity for us to revitalize our city,” Councilor Steven Hoyt said in a news release from the council. “I think we need to try and continue to duplicate this in all our communities.” Hoyt chairs the council’s Planning and Zoning Committee. The rezoning request was filed by Dynamic Civil Solutions, representing owner WF Real Property Resources LLC.

3. Site preparation and construction is underway on the new program services campus for United Way of Central Alabama, which is located at 3600 Eighth Ave. S. in Avondale. The renovation of the former Overlook Building at 3620 Eighth Ave. S., adjacent to the UWCA headquarters, is expected to take about nine months, according to a spokesperson for the nonprofit. The UWCA purchased the 35,000-square-foot building, formerly the offices of Ram Tool, in 2018. The organization has selected Stewart/Perry as its general contractor.

4. H2 Real Estate announced in January that 2323, a new condominium project, is coming to a site at 2323 Second Ave. S. There will be 11 units in the facility, which is being built by local developer Metropolitan and designed by David Baker Architecture of Birmingham and San Francisco. The Lynlee Hughes Team at H2 will handle all listings. 2323 will consist of a one-bedroom unit, two live-work units and eight two-bedroom condominiums in two three-story buildings surrounding a private courtyard. Prices will range from the mid- $200,000s to the high $300,000s. Other projects by Metropolitan include Second Row, the Phoenix Building lofts and the townhouse development ROW 5 on Morris Avenue.

5. Clarke Properties recently purchased the 3,100-square-foot mezzanine floor of the historic City Federal Building at 2024 Second Ave. N., according to a spokesperson for the company. The commercial space previously housed the executive offices of the bank and features original wood-paneled suites and Alabama white marble. Clarke Properties plans on designing and building the space to suit a tenant. Robert Crook at Ironvest Properties will handle the leasing.

New Construction

6. Demolition and abatement are underway on the interior of a new $25 million arts campus for Red Mountain Theatre Company, according to a spokesperson for the nonprofit. The excavation for the orchestra pit was to begin in mid- to late January. The RMTC held a Dec. 11 groundbreaking for the facility, which is located at 1600 Third Ave. S. adjacent to Regions Field. The main theatre will accommodate 360 attendees in cabaret seating or 450 people when configured as a proscenium-style venue. The 10,000-square-foot education center will house the 100-seat Discovery Theatre along with rehearsal and classroom spaces. LIVE Design Group are the architects. Brasfield & Gorrie is the general contractor. Harbert Realty Services will manage the project. Construction should be complete in summer 2021.

7. Additional site work began recently for Lakeview Green, a mixed-use project with condominiums, apartments, restaurants, retail and a large public green space located at 2901 Fourth Ave. S. The project was announced in August 2017. Developers had already completed some site work, including the demolition of the old Davis School.

8. The city of Tarrant held a groundbreaking in January for its new City Hall located at 1528 Jackson Blvd., according to a news release from the municipality. Tarrant Mayor Loxcil Tuck is overseeing plans for the buildout at a former Food Giant location in the city’s historic downtown area. The facility will measure 10,000 square feet. Construction, to be overseen by Coston General Contractors, is projected to take almost a year. Gardner Architect designed the facility. The city expects to sell the old City Hall on a nearly twoacre parcel at 1604 Pinson Valley Parkway. “We’ve worked tirelessly over the last decade to revitalize the historic downtown area, so we are proud to have City Hall back in that location,” Tuck said.

9. Work has begun on a renovation of the former Business Engineering Complex at UAB, according to UAB Media Relations. At press time, demolition was expected to be nearly complete by mid-January. Interior framing and the rough-in are to follow demolition. When complete, the facility will house the School of Education.

Construction Update

10. Construction is underway at the Dewberry Building, located at 3201 Fourth Ave. S. in the Lakeview district. The University of Alabama at Birmingham’s 1917 Clinic, the state’s largest HIV health care unit, will occupy 50,664 square feet and expects to move in late 2020 or early 2021. Birmingham AIDS Outreach will also move into the building. Brasfi eld & Gorrie is the general contractor, Farris Properties is the developer and KPS Group is the architect.

11. Construction continues on the Avenue A townhomes, a project with 28 two- and three-bedroom townhomes along The Rotary Trail in the 2300 block of First Avenue South. The project is being developed by H2 Real Estate and The Dobbins Group. At press time, work had begun on the building’s interior, and the units were ready for walk-throughs by prospective buyers, according to an H2 spokesperson.

12. Work continues on the renovation of the historic former New Ideal department store downtown for use as The New Ideal Lofts. At press time, a two-bedroom, two-bath model unit was complete, staged and available for tours, according to a spokesperson for the developer, New Ideal Lofts LLC. In addition, the framework for an annex to the original building was going up. H2 Real Estate is the listing company for the development, which consists of 44 micro, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units and 3,500 square feet of commercial space on the ground fl oor.

13. UAB expects to complete construction of a new $60 million residence hall on 10th Avenue South between 16th and 17th streets by June or July, according to UAB Media Relations. The dorm will accommodate 720 undergraduates. At press time, construction was about 50% complete, and work was in progress on the concrete structure; exterior framing, sheathing and brick; and interior partitions.

14. Construction is underway for the new $19.2 million UAB Technology Innovation Center, to be located at 17th Street South and Ninth Avenue South, according to UAB Media Relations. At press time, steel installation had started. Set to open in early 2021, the center, measuring 40,000 square feet, will house campus internet connectivity and technology infrastructure.

15. A renovation of the old Snoozy’s Bookstore on campus to house the UAB Honors College should be completed by May, according to UAB Media Relations. The cost to renovate the two-story, 11,000-square-foot building is about $2.7 million. The exterior grounds will be landscaped as a courtyard. At press time, construction was about 40% complete.

16. Construction continues on Town House Park, a new park with trees, tables and benches at the former location of Town House Hotel at the corner of 20th Street South and University Boulevard., according to UAB Media Relations. Completion is expected in mid-February. The old UAB town House was demolished in 2019.

17. The renovation of the McCallum Basic Health Science Building at UAB is more than 90% complete, according to UAB Media Relations. Interior work is scheduled to be completed in March, and the exterior renovation for floors eight and nine should be finished by June. Construction is expected to begin this spring for the replacement of the exterior envelope for floors two through seven.

Opening/Closing

18. Ore Mercantile, a retail shop featuring local brands, opened recently at 4414 Fourth Ave. S. in Avondale. Birmingham brands featured at Ore include Original Birmingham Apparel Company, Manitou Supply, Deep Creek Trading Company, Faith Skate Supply, Magic City Organics, Wild One Boutique and the Alabama Peanut Company.

19. Temple Beth-el, located at 2179 Highland Ave. near Five Points South, recently announced the opening of its Halpern-Levitt KidZone & Family Center, a dedicated play space with family-centered activities and an indoor soft playground for kids.

20. Firehouse Ministries has nearly finished the construction of its new homeless shelter at 626 Second Ave. N. At press time, the facility was expected to host a ribbon-cutting Feb. 13, according to Anne Wright Rygiel, the nonprofit’s executive director. The organization is also raising money by selling bricks to donors for $100 each. The bricks will be part of a path leading into the new facility. For information, go to firehouseshelter.com.

21. Hot Diggity Dogs in Avondale closed permanently Jan. 18. The eatery, located at 430 41st St. S. above Fancy’s on Fifth, announced the closure on its Facebook page a few days before. The restaurant was opened in July 2016 by Tom Bagby, the former chef at Bottletree Cafe, and was known for its wide selection of special gourmet hot dogs. According to the Facebook post, The Marble Ring — a speakeasy adjoining the hot dog place on the building’s top floor — was to remain open.

Coming Soon

22. Popular local restaurant Ashley Mac’s will open its fifth location at The Pizitz Food Hall this spring, according to a news release from Bayer Properties. The 1,400-square-foot full-service restaurant will be located near the courtyard entrance. In addition, Bad Az Tacos, billed as an authentic, Mexican-inspired taco concept, will open at the facility early this year and operate seven days a week. Founded by Chuy Mendez, a partner in The Louis Bar at The Pizitz, Bad Az Tacos will also offer quesadillas, tostadas and some Latin desserts. Winner Winner, a fried chicken concept from Jonathan Burch of the Alabama Biscuit Company, is already in operation at the food hall. The stall serves classic fried chicken, hand-cut fries and soft-serve ice cream.