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BIRMINGHAM, AL | Urban Renaissance & Construction
Birmingham, Magic City http://farm2.staticflickr.com/1186/5...3b5ee688_o.jpg Taken by briantmurphy on Flickr. http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4111/5...dae28a6d_b.jpg Taken by myself. Considering the national attention Birmingham has recently received regarding the amount of activity occurring in its downtown, I felt it appropriate to begin a Compilation thread to detail the large and important projects that are under construction, approve/planned, or proposed. Two recent (within the last few months) articles by the Associate Press and the New York Times have been two of the top contributers to the national attention noted in the above paragraph. AP: Once dying, Birmingham is suddenly hot NYT: A Return to Downtown Birmingham The above articles only underscore the potential that many of us locally believe the city to have. As is mentioned in the NYT article, the city largely escaped the demolish and pave movement that saw many older buildings in downtown areas torn down to make way for parking lots or horrid architecture. Because of this, much of the activity seen in downtown Birmingham has been in the form of renovations and new construction that meshes well with, or takes advantage of, the gritty nature of the cityscape. For more consistent updates on construction progress or smaller projects that would clutter up this thread, please feel free to check out the Birmingham Development News thread in the Southeast forum. Now to begin the list of current projects that are under construction, approved/planned, proposed, or recently completed (mid-2012 or later). Starting with the more recent announcements/news. As of March 2013, REV Birmingham reported to Forbes that public/private investment in downtown totaled $938.7 Million. Recently Completed Westin Birmingham - DwnTwn-UPTOWN http://www.starwoodhotels.com/pub/me....134535_md.jpg Source: Starwood Hotels The Westin Birmingham is located adjacent to the Sheraton Birmingham Hotel and the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex. The addition of another hotel near the BJCC was a big goal for the city, as it would bring the total number of hotel rooms nearby the BJCC over 1,000. The Westin Birmingham is also home to the Todd English P.U.B. which has two locations nationwide, the other being in Las Vegas. Regions Field - DwnTwn-SOUTHSIDE http://www.milb.com/assets/images/0/...1_jay8ma79.jpg Source: Birmingham Barons http://www.milb.com/assets/images/1/...S_1xideiob.jpg Source: Birmingham Barons http://www.milb.com/assets/images/4/...n_au3azciz.jpg Source: Birmingham Barons Regions Field is an 8,500 seat baseball stadium, completed this summer (2013), On the Southside of Birmingham and is home to the AA White Sox affiliate the Birmingham Barons, who moved to this new stadium from the B'ham suburb of Hoover. 29 Seven Apartments - DwnTwn-LAKEVIEW http://media.al.com/businessnews/pho...7734-large.jpg Source: AL.com; Tamika Moore $15 Million project home to retail (4 restaurants) on the first floor, and 54 apartments above. Benjamin Russell Hospital for Children - DwnTwn-SOUTHSIDE-MEDICAL https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-F...m%2520I-65.jpg Source: Children's of Alabama https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-1...rens5_0123.jpg Source: Children's of Alabama LEED certified, 332 beds, 12 floors, 760,000 sqft. Sloss Furnaces Visitor Center http://media.al.com/businessnews/pho...6593-large.jpg Source: AL.com $5.8 million, opened in Fall of 2012. Iron City Music Hall - DwnTwn-SOUTHSIDE http://imgick.al.com/home/bama-media...634409b309.jpg Source: AL.com Opened Feb 2013, 1,300 person capacity, $6 million. Under construction/to be completed Trinity-Grandview Medical Center - B'HAM-280 http://wvtm.images.worldnow.com/images/2690987_G.jpg Source: NBC 13 http://www.businessalabama.com/image...27139e008.jpeg Source: Business Alabama $300 million, to be completed in 2016, will be the center of the Cahaba Center Business Park directly employing 5,500. Daniel Corp. has plans to construct a 200,000 sqft medical office building and 250 room hotel. UAB Visual Arts Center - DwnTwn-SOUTHSIDE-UAB http://media.al.com/entertainment_im...4868-large.jpg Source: AL.com http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h1...psb7fc39d8.jpg http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h1...psdb5f7629.jpg Source: Tim City 2000 $12.5 million, to be completed by Oct 2013. Uptown Entertainment District - DwnTwn-UPTOWN - WEBSITE http://bayerproperties.com/wp-conten...ew-482x305.jpg Source: Bayer Properties Along Richard Arrington Blvd. So far, the restaraunt Texas De Brazil, South, Mugshots, Cantina Laredo, Octane Coffee Bar, and The Ivy are future tenants. FUTURE I-22 / Interstate-65 Interchange - NORTH BIRMINGHAM $168.8 million, 14 ramps, 14 bridges, 1.5 miles long, ties together Future I-22/I-65/US 31. Will open in late 2014, connecting Birmingham to Memphis. Birmingham-Shuttlesworth Intl. terminal modernization http://imgick.al.com/home/bama-media...dedfd6da07.JPG $201 million, upgrade Concourse C, new Concourses A and B, US Customs office, to be completed in 2014. LEED Silver certification anticipated. Riverchase Galleria renovation - HOOVER http://imgick.al.com/home/bama-media...4b60fb7e70.JPG http://media.al.com/birmingham-news/...6b2e1bcf2e.JPG Source: AL.com $60-90 million, Von Maur and Old Navy opening in Fall 2013, new (larger) Forever 21 location opened in Aug 2013, Wynfrey Hotel renovation and conversion to Hyatt Regency ($20 million). Announced 9/3/2013, Michael Kors and Cathy Jean will open stores in the mall. Announced 9/4/2013, Belk will invest in a renovation to make it's Galleria location a flagship store, giving Birmingham its second such location and Alabama its third. The Belk store will also soon hire 55 new employees. Birmingham School of Law - DwnTwn-SOUTHSIDE http://media.al.com/birmingham-news/...1-standard.jpg Source: AL.com $3.5 - 4 million, 114 seat lecture hall, rooftop patio/meeting area. Financial Center renovation - DwnTwn-CBD http://media.al.com/business_impact/...4054-large.jpg Source: AL.com $5 million UAB Student Center - DwnTwn-SOUTHSIDE-UAB https://www.uab.edu/students/images/...ter-design.jpg Source: UAB $48.5 million, to be completed by Fall 2015 Lyric Theatre restoration - DwnTwn-THEATER DISTRICT http://lightupthelyric.com/wp-conten...Lyriccompa.jpg Source: Lyric Theatre http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h1...psdfb2bdc1.jpg Source: Time City 2000 Whitmire Lofts - DwnTwn-THEATER DISTRICT http://media.al.com/birmingham-news/...e3e08f2a2a.jpg Source: AL.com LIV Parkside - DwnTwn-PARKSIDE http://media.al.com/business_impact/...9683-large.jpg http://media.al.com/business_impact/...9702-large.jpg Source: AL.com $30 million project, 6 floors, 228 apartments, adjacent to Railroad Park, 2,900 sqft of retail on first floor. To be completed by spring of 2015. Booker T. Washington Building renovation - DwnTwn-THEATER DISTRICT http://media.al.com/business_impact/...7060-large.jpg Source: Birmingham Biz Journal The Parisian[/COLOR] - $7.5 million, plans call for 32 apartments, ground floor retail/dining, rooftop deck, and 163 space parking deck. Planned groundbreaking in November with the project finishing in late spring 2014. Went ahead and moved this one to under construction since it's only about a month away.[/COLOR] Approved/Planned L&N Parkside - Dwntwn-Parkside http://media.al.com/business_impact/...6226-large.jpg http://media.al.com/business_impact/...6327-large.jpg http://media.al.com/business_impact/...6379-large.jpg Source: AL.com 6 floors, 129 apartments, 12,000 sqft of retail/restaurant space on first floor, 200 space parking deck attached, adjacent to Regions Field. Five Points South Residential Tower http://media.al.com/business_impact/...7882-large.jpg http://media.al.com/business_impact/...7885-large.jpg http://media.al.com/business_impact/...7886-large.jpg Source: AL.com $40 million, 15 floors, upscale, main tower will have 223 apartments with adjoining parking deck surrounded by an additional 88 apartments. Deck will include 525 spaces, building will include storage for 50 bikes. VA Clinic/Parking Deck http://media.al.com/business_impact/...5239-large.jpg http://media.al.com/business_impact/...5334-large.jpg http://media.al.com/business_impact/...5340-large.jpg Source: AL.com $50 Million. 2,800 space parking deck. 70,000 square foot clinic. At the corner of 25th St South and University Blvd. Might as well be at the corner of Red Mountain Expressway and University Blvd South. Pizitz Building renovation - DwnTwn-CBD http://assets.bizjournals.com/birmin...tz_web.jpg?v=1 Source: Birmingham Biz Journal Grocery store/restaurant on the first floor with 145 apartment suites on floors 2-7. Previous proposals had a substantial amount of office space instead of residential space. Construction is expected to start early 2014 and be completed in 2016. The Stockyard @ Railroad Park - Dwntwn-PARKSIDE http://media.al.com/business_impact/...7370-large.jpg Source: AL.com Crowdsourced development located adjacent to Regions Field. So far, only the name has been selected. Next, the public will vote on a design for the building on BirminghamsBuilding.com. 5 Points S - DwnTwn-SOUTHSIDE-5 POINTS SOUTH http://media.al.com/businessnews/pho...5551-large.jpg Source: AL.com 2 new restaurants, $15 million Homewood Suites. 20/59 Downtown Viaduct - DwnTwn-CBD Would replace the current elevated viaduct through downtown with a new elevated viaduct. The current proposal by ALDOT has drawn much criticism from the public, but the plan shows no signs of being changed. University Flats - DwnTwn-SOUTHSIDE $6.6 million project, 60 units near UAB, primarily marketed to grad students. Lane Park - MOUNTAIN BROOK http://media.al.com/spotnews/photo/11054142-large.jpg Source: AL.com $140 million project, multi-use, could potentially be partially delayed to 2019, though. Downtown Inter-modal Facility - DwnTwn-CBD http://media.al.com/spotnews/photo/11824822-large.jpg Source: AL.com $30 million project to combine passenger service for Amtrak, Greyhound, local buses, and potentially Megabus as well as provide a "farmers' market" type market. Construction should begin in Oct 2013. Birmingham VA - DwnTwn The VA has plans for a 60,000 sqft facility including a 2,000 car parking deck in the CBD. LIV Birmingham_Additional Residential Development - DwnTwn-PARKSIDE LINK to LIV's current, more solid project A second project proposed by LIV Development to be constructed in the Parkside area on the Southside. Current plans call for a $30 million development with around 220 units (estimated based on my own evaluations). Proposed Thomas Jefferson Tower renovation - DwnTwn-CIVIL RIGHTS http://assets.bizjournals.com/birmin...er_web.jpg?v=1 Source: Birmingham Biz Journal 20 floors, 306 units planned. Official costs and plans have not been released. Stonewall Building renovation Firestone Building - Dwntwn-SOUTHSIDE Has been mentioned for possible redevelopment as a grocery store and apartments (potentially 30). Source: Birmingham Biz Journal 3rd Ave S/16th St S Apartments - DwnTwn-PARKSIDE $33 million, 245 unit apartment project. Rumored large apartment project in Parkside |
awesome work!
the vibe in this city is so positive right now. the energy is palpable! can't wait to keep updating this thread with newer and even bigger projects! |
AWESOME! Thank you for making a B-ham thread. I sometimes check the thread in the Southeast subsection but it'll be much easier to keep up on activity here. Birmingham has a rather large and impressive core for a city its size (population-wise). I would love to see it become more active and developed, thrive as Alabama's major city and evolve to become another central node of the Piedmont megalopolis.
And it wouldn't hurt to snatch the "state's tallest tower" title back from Mobile...baby steps ;) |
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I too would like to see the state's tallest building back in Birmingham, but I imagine it might look a bit awkward if it were to be constructed in downtown because of where it would have to be constructed due to flight paths :/ Stupid flight paths... |
yep, a lot of people probably don't realize that the CBD is directly in the flight path of BHM International. the tallest 4 towers are all capped out in the 400-450' range.
would love to see a tall or even supertall tower built, but it would have to be south of the tracks. that's really the only "problem" with all this development... it's not manifesting itself in new towers. as quattordici said, there's great building stock to take advantage of. but to the average passerby on the interstate who doesn't experience the redevelopment at the street level, i can see where the current skyline looks a little tired. |
Great start.
A new tower would be awesome but right now I am quite pleased with all the lights coming back on in the buildings already there. The Magic is coming back. |
Great thread, and long overdue! Birmingham deserves all the attention it's getting lately.
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I'm glad there's a Birmingham thread on the main page now. Regions Field looks damn good! I might have to make a trip down to check it out in person.
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Great start!
I have been waiting for a thread to pop up for Birmingham especially because of all the news I have heard of the downtown turn around. It has indeed been long over due. I will be following this one from now on. |
I'm glad y'all appreciate it! Just for s***s and giggles, just so you know, attendance for Birmingham Barons at Regions Field is the highest in the league (total and average). Their average attendance is over 1,000 greater than the closest franchise (Pensacola).
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The energy around Birmingham is getting pretty exciting.
I haven't felt this vibe in ten years. |
Well, of course we've heard of Mobile a little while ago. I hope the entire state is making good business.
@ *BRAVO* :haha::tup: That fantastic signature of yours is gorgeous, I love it. Let me say it again! It's hard to compete with tacky. Haha! people, that's precious. |
2 new tenants announced for Uptown Entertainment District
LINK http://media.al.com/business_impact/...6237-large.jpg Source: AL.com Mugshots and Cantina Laredo will join the lineup in the spring of 2014. Other joints slated for the district which are under construction are: Texas de Brazil (opening spring 2014) The Ivy South (opening this fall) Octane Coffee Bar (opening in September) The addition of Mugshots and Cantina Laredo brings the total number of restaurants, bars, pubs, etc... to 7 in the district with only one slot remaining. |
Birmingham is pretty sweet. While it's not my top choice, it's on my short list of places to relocate to if I ever do decide to move to a new city.
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downtown is hopping this weekend!
sidewalk film festival, taste of 4th ave jazz festival, revival music fest... all within a few blocks. can only imagine if the barons were in town too. here's a small one to add to the list... it's in the theatre district: http://www.al.com/business/index.ssf...r_alabama.html http://media.al.com/birmingham-news/...e3e08f2a2a.jpg |
add this one to "under construction":
$19 Million U.S. Treasury Building http://www.bizjournals.com/birmingha...-approval.html i drove by the site this evening... it's still dirt, but construction signs/fences are up. |
$30 million apartment, retail project to be built across from Railroad Park
One of the rumored developments around Railroad Park just got announced:
$30 million apartment, retail project to be built across from Railroad Park via al.com Quote:
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http://media.al.com/business_impact/...6469-large.jpg http://media.al.com/business_impact/...38ffa8b548.jpg |
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haha i came in here to post this as well. finally a rendering! the design review committee said it looks "too suburban"... will be interesting to see what changes are made. hope it doesn't get held up. i want all this momentum around railroad park and regions field to keep going.
as for the height... the image shows only 6 stories total. so i think it must be 4 residential + 2 parking. glad they incorporated retail at the base as well... that was a major sticking point early on. |
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I too am glad that there will be some retail. I also agree that the design is too suburban. Not to go off on a tangent, but the design review committee has really done a great job of preventing "non-conforming" uses and designs from developing. While some may view this as anti-growth, I think it something that will encourage future growth.
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Yeah I counted the floors too in the drawing a figured maybe the two parking levels were underground.
It does look too suburban but I trust theyll hash out a worthy design. But everything doesnt have to look like it was hammered out at sloss or use the same brick as uab or stick out like Cityville. It is going to be good looking no matter what they do since that area hungry for more development. |
^ agreed. let's keep in mind what this thing will be replacing: an overrun, abandoned lot full of weeds and gravel.
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Details for the renovation/conversion of the Booker T. Washington building in downtown to apartments and ground floor retail have been released.
Plans call for a $7.5 million project with 32 apartments, rooftop deck, fitness center, 163 space parking deck, and corner balconies to be named The Parisian. http://media.al.com/business_impact/...7060-large.jpg Source: AL.com EDIT: Master project list has been updated to reflect information presented in the above article (click the link). |
Definitely an improvement!
Btw, still need to update the master list with LIV Parkside. |
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EDIT: There, updated. |
awesome compilation, great to see the renovation going on
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quat... The LIV Parkside development is actually replacing the "Parkside Apartments ($21M)" that is still listed.
thanks for keeping up with this! glad to see it all in one place. |
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not sure if we should include this one?
currently under construction on hillside circle, near vulcan park. might technically be in homewood. still, a sizeable development: $17 Million, 135 units. apparently they torn down an old complex on site and are building this in its place. "The Moretti at Vulcan Park": http://www.bizjournals.com/birmingha...m-for-17m.html http://assets.bizjournals.com/birmin...dering.jpg?v=1 |
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I've driven around the area since then, but I haven't noticed any progress that resembles that project. If anyone can provide some evidence or news about it would definitely be appreciated and would be reason to include it in the master compilation. |
i found this:
http://www.capstonebuilding.com/PROJ...1/Default.aspx aerial from august: http://www.capstonebuilding.com/Port...1308012111.jpg |
Is birmingham ever going to build another highrise office building????
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The two notable vacant towers in downtown are the Thomas Jefferson Tower (19 floors, built in 1929; just purchased a couple weeks ago) and the Brown Marx Building (16 floors, built in 1906). I think we could potentially see some new construction in the next few years , but I think the market will absorb these vacant ones before that occurs. I don't mind that so much, I really want to see these older towers put to good use. They add a certain character that's hard to replicate with new construction. There are few cities that can say the earliest members of their skyline still play an important role in their downtown economy (and cityscape). |
Master list updated with two announcements (yesterday and today) about a Belk renovation at the Riverchase Galleria to convert it to a flagship store and two other new stores that will also locate to the mall.
For now on, new information to the master list will be colored red to make it easier to figure out what you have or haven't already seen. I'll try to do some regular housekeeping to make sure things don't stay red forever. |
Belk has backed out on plans to build a flagship store in Huntsville. So once the Riverchase store is upgraded, the Birmingham area will have the only two in the state.
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$46 Million dorm approved by UAB trustees last year... not sure what happened to this one:
http://www.bizjournals.com/birmingha....html?page=all article also mentions the student center, which we know about. |
More apartments coming to Railroad Park? Same group that's doing LIV Parkside:
http://www.bizjournals.com/birmingha...partments.html No real details yet, though. Wonder why they wouldn't just build a taller complex on a single site? |
Thanx Tim; master list has been updated.
Again, all recent updates will be colored red. I will do occasional housekeeping to make sure that old stuff is not colored/labeled as such. |
Great pre-construction step occurred with the Design Review Committee's approval of the $7.5 million renovation of the former Booker T. Washington Insurance Building into The Parisian. The project is slated to begin construction in November completed in early 2014, ahead of many other downtown residential projects. It will have 32 apartments and commercial space on the first floor and in the basement.
http://media.al.com/business_impact/...7060-large.jpg Rendering; source: AL.com Also, the DRC approved the demolition of a building next to Cafe Dupont on 20th St north in favor of a gated entrance to a courtyard. http://media.al.com/business_impact/...9757-large.jpg Rendering; source also AL.com Other things that the Design Review Committee took under consideration: Quote:
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The V.A. has announce the location for it's new 50,000sf clinic and 2800 car parking deck on Friday September 20, 2013 on AL.com and The Birmingham Business Journal. It will be located 5 blocks from the main VA hospital. The parking deck entrance will be on the University Blvd side and the clinic will be located on the 7th Avenue South side. Construction will began in early 2014 and finished in late 2015.
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^nice!
here's the article: http://www.bizjournals.com/birmingha...am-co-uab.html so this is across 280/red mtn expressway from st vincents, right? if i'm looking at google maps correctly, this is currently a parking lot (immediately on your right as you exit onto university blvd from the expressway heading south). story mentions a 3-story clinic/medical office building and an EIGHT story parking deck... *edit* found some "renderings"... not great, but better than the parking lot it replaces. looks like the site has a pretty big slope, so the height of the building will mostly be realized from 7th ave south. http://media.al.com/business_impact/...5239-large.jpg http://media.al.com/business_impact/...5340-large.jpg http://media.al.com/business_impact/...5334-large.jpg |
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Horrendous design and plan. Especially for such a prominent location on University.
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^kind of agree... that parking deck is a giant and it's the face you're presented with on university. i feel bad for the people in the housing development across the street that will have to look out to that, although the current parking lot isn't any better.
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It truly is sad... they have a chance to do something really nice and instead decide to plop down a fat slab of parking. I know the government isn't directly in the business of commercial development but it seems like the GSA could have worked with UAB, St Vincents, or even a developer to take advantage of the great views of downtown (and there are some spectacular views from this lot) and make this something nice.
I understand their great need for parking nearer to the VA Hospital, but really could they not have worked with UAB to expand an existing deck? I understand that structurally some deck simply may not be able to be expanded, but it seems like there had to have been some other options. If I'm not mistaken, there is an Executive Order that puts pressure on the GSA to exhaust downtown options before pursuing locations outside the city center; I wish that soliciting community input was also a part of that Order... Back when I had to frequent the Kirklin Clinic for my TMJ, I always went out of my way to take the Expressway, so that I could get off at University and see that great view of downtown. I guess people could climb the future parking deck to get a good view, but still... I really hate how frequently we have to "settle" for this kind of thing. EDIT: Also, can anyone think of a reason why the deck is fronting University and not the clinic? |
[IMG]http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h1...ps012d3a37.jpg[/IMG]
here's an aerial of the site. it may have to do with the proximity of that exit ramp from 280 onto university. that ramp already backs up in the morning... an entrance off university might add to that. also, 7th avenue has a decent amount of activity, although most of it is a couple of blocks east in the lakeview area. and, i hate to say it, but i'm guessing they didn't want their building facing out towards the housing authority units. |
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