Birmingham Development News - Page 156

SpawnOfVulcan · #**3101** Posted **Mar 8, 2018, 3:14 PM**

I think if RSA were to do any kind of office development in downtown it would be to do what they did with the old AmSouth tower in Mobile, currently the RSA-BankTrust Building. I think they could buy up AT&T City Center since it's about to be practically, if not completely, vacant and completely redevelop it.

At the moment, there's simply too much current, and future, vacancy in downtown office space to warrant a new large scale office tower.

Bamablazer · #**3102** Posted **Mar 8, 2018, 3:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by tascalisa

I think if RSA were to do any kind of office development in downtown it would be to do what they did with the old AmSouth tower in Mobile, currently the RSA-BankTrust Building. I think they could buy up AT&T City Center since it's about to be practically, if not completely, vacant and completely redevelop it.

At the moment, there's simply too much current, and future, vacancy in downtown office space to warrant a new large scale office tower.

I agree totally, and with the old Greyhound Bus Station up for sale, and they probably could buy the Alabama Power Company's short term parking lot behind the old station, they could do an incredible project.

SpawnOfVulcan · #**3103** Posted **Mar 8, 2018, 3:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bamablazer

I agree totally, and with the old Greyhound Bus Station up for sale, and they probably could buy the Alabama Power Company's short term parking lot behind the old station, they could do an incredible project.

You know honestly, if RSA wanted to do something fancy, they could do something with that Greyhound station (tear it down) and build a large hotel or residential development. Or a mixture of the two.

1) You gotta believe there are hundreds of corporate execs working at the banks that would love to have a posh home within a couple blocks of work.

2) The city center only has 1 large hotel (Sheraton). If the BJCC redevelopment (if it comes to fruition) is as successful as it should be, there would be a sharp increase in demand for nearby hotel rooms and the area around AT&T and Alabama Power would be perfect for that.

Tourian · #**3104** Posted **Mar 9, 2018, 4:37 PM**

Bad for the humane society, but good for the city overall. Hopefully this tech company announcement will be big.

http://www.wiat.com/news/local/great...lle/1013143023

Bamablazer · #**3105** Posted **Mar 9, 2018, 6:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tourian

Bad for the humane society, but good for the city overall. Hopefully this tech company announcement will be big.

http://www.wiat.com/news/local/great...lle/1013143023

Yes, I hate that for them too, but the city and county needs the jobs and tax dollars. Hopefully the county and city can find them a better site somewhere nearby.

TheCapstone · #**3106** Posted **Mar 10, 2018, 5:13 PM**

Car lease tax for BJCC stadium not yet a done deal

Why?

Quote:

Rep. John Rogers, D-Birmingham, said he will do all he can to block the proposal when it reaches the House floor.

Quote:

"They're gonna build it five miles from Legion Field when they ought to be trying to help build up Legion Field and the neighborhood around Legion Field and make it an attractive area," Rogers said.

Legion Field is beyond repair. Pumping more money into a dilapidated venue isn't a good investment. I doubt Rogers could have said any of this without a smirk on his face, considering the new proposal would be more proximate to entertainment and UAB.

Consider this also since March Madness is literally next week: Birmingham hasn't hosted a tournament game since 2008, and was told they wouldn't host another one until necessary improvements were made to the facilities. With everyone going on in uptown- and other areas of downtown- this renovation is a no brainer from a tourism standpoint.

SpawnOfVulcan · #**3107** Posted **Mar 10, 2018, 6:31 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheCapstone

Car lease tax for BJCC stadium not yet a done deal

Why?

Legion Field is beyond repair. Pumping more money into a dilapidated venue isn't a good investment. I doubt Rogers could have said any of this without a smirk on his face, considering the new proposal would be more proximate to entertainment and UAB.

Consider this also since March Madness is literally next week: Birmingham hasn't hosted a tournament game since 2008, and was told they wouldn't host another one until necessary improvements were made to the facilities. With everyone going on in uptown- and other areas of downtown- this renovation is a no brainer from a tourism standpoint.

He's only playing to his base that believes that this tax is ONLY going to a new stadium. The stadium is only half of it, I think it might actually be less than half of the total cost of the renovation. Either way, he can do what he wants, I doubt there are enough representatives on his side to keep it from being passed in the end.

Tourian · #**3108** Posted **Mar 10, 2018, 9:37 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheCapstone

Legion Field is beyond repair. Pumping more money into a dilapidated venue isn't a good investment.

That's just not true. There's no such thing as beyond repair, especially when we're talking about something that is in use and not condemened. It is NOT dilapidated. If this were an old highrise downtown and they were talking about using HTC credits to turn it into a hotel or luxury condos, most of us would be excited and all for it.

But I get it, I am all for a downtown stadium now. It took me a LONG time to get on board with it, but I just don't think the location of LF works with what the city is doing and has done with Uptown.

Whatever Rogers true motivation is, I suppose only he knows, but I just don't like the whole game of trying to block something that should be left to a vote and that's it. I hate the whole underhanded tactics they can use to block something that has a majority vote, but then I guess that is what our country is founded on.

They were/are still talking about pumping money into LF to keep it up AND build the new stadium. I'd rather they didn't and focus on building a very nice stadium dt and making the BJCC very nice so that it is a contender for SEC basketball again.

TimCity2000 · #**3109** Posted **Mar 11, 2018, 1:58 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bamablazer

Just got home from work and I noticed from my balcony a 3rd tower crane. It looks like it's just east of St Vincent's here on the southside. What could it be???
It just came to me, it is probably the new Lakeview Green condo complex.

i noticed the crane too. it's much closer to st. vincents. definitely not the lakeview green project. they're still doing demolition on that project. besides, it's only 4 stories.

TimCity2000 · #**3110** Posted **Mar 11, 2018, 2:00 AM**

Affordable apartments set for vacant downtown Birmingham high-rise

This is the Stonewall / American Life / Martin Building on the eastern edge of downtown (very prominent from 280).

Another vacant building coming back to life. Now if we could just stop our "newer" buildings (AT&T, Regions) from losing tenants....

Bamablazer · #**3111** Posted **Mar 11, 2018, 7:39 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimCity2000

i noticed the crane too. it's much closer to st. vincents. definitely not the lakeview green project. they're still doing demolition on that project. besides, it's only 4 stories.

Not Lakeview green?? Wow, what could it be? I've not seen anything on AL.com or BBJ. I'll just have to go down there,

SpawnOfVulcan · #**3112** Posted **Mar 11, 2018, 8:05 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bamablazer

Not Lakeview green?? Wow, what could it be? I've not seen anything on AL.com or BBJ. I'll just have to go down there,

I just looked at the BBJ's cranewatch and I don't see anything that close to St. Vincents that would need a crane unless someone made an oopsy at The Metropolitan and they're having to make some major changes.

I came into the office today, so I'll drive over there in a few and see if there are any signs or something.

Bamablazer · #**3113** Posted **Mar 11, 2018, 8:29 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bamablazer

Not Lakeview green?? Wow, what could it be? I've not seen anything on AL.com or BBJ. I'll just have to go down there,

Wow, I was way off on this one. It is something St. Vincent's building.

SpawnOfVulcan · #**3114** Posted **Mar 11, 2018, 10:15 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bamablazer

Wow, I was way off on this one. It is something St. Vincent's building.

Yup. I drove by a couple hours ago and while it's definitely something St. Vincent's is doing, it was not at all clear what it is their building. Only thing I could think of is either an expansion of the Bruno Cancer Center, or an expansion of the adjoining parking deck. Either of those seem possible, but I think the parking deck expansion might make more sense. If there was an expansion of the cancer center coming, I think we would have heard about it by now.

Bamablazer · #**3115** Posted **Mar 13, 2018, 11:22 PM**

There is a picture of a planned apartment complex for the UAB/Parkside district in the Birmingham Business Journal behind the pay wall. It looks like it will be located on 5th Avenue South between 13th and 14th Street. Replacing an abandon warehouse sitting on nearly a half a block of land. Part of the article's headline says it already has approval from the Design Review Committee.

SpawnOfVulcan · #**3116** Posted **Mar 14, 2018, 1:08 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bamablazer

There is a picture of a planned apartment complex for the UAB/Parkside district in the Birmingham Business Journal behind the pay wall. It looks like it will be located on 5th Avenue South between 13th and 14th Street. Replacing an abandon warehouse sitting on nearly a half a block of land. Part of the article's headline says it already has approval from the Design Review Committee.

I'd post the rest of the info that's behind the paywall, but there really isn't anything THAT interesting in the article other than what you've already posted. If anything was of interest, it said that there will be 26 units per floor in 1, 2, 3 and 4 room layouts. Total of 7 floors with 2 being parking.

Bamablazer · #**3117** Posted **Mar 14, 2018, 2:48 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by tascalisa

I'd post the rest of the info that's behind the paywall, but there really isn't anything THAT interesting in the article other than what you've already posted. If anything was of interest, it said that there will be 26 units per floor in 1, 2, 3 and 4 room layouts. Total of 7 floors with 2 being parking.

Thank you.
I think it is an awesome location, 1 block from Bartow Arena. Wish it was doubled the height.

TimCity2000 · #**3118** Posted **Mar 14, 2018, 4:00 PM**

great location for sure. looks to be 7 stories in the rendering.

TimCity2000 · #**3119** Posted **Mar 14, 2018, 4:12 PM**

also: Major redevelopment in works for Theatre District buildings

guess we'll have to wait for al.com to pick up/copy these stories haha

SpawnOfVulcan · #**3120** Posted **Mar 14, 2018, 5:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimCity2000

also: Major redevelopment in works for Theatre District buildings

guess we'll have to wait for al.com to pick up/copy these stories haha

I'll throw you a bone.

Major redevelopment in works for Theatre District buildings

Birmingham Biz Journal
Brent Godwin
March 14, 2018
LINK

Quote:

Two adjacent buildings on Third Avenue North are being redeveloped in a major project that will bring live, work and play space to downtown's Theatre District.

The western half of the Graves Building and the former Roberts & Son Printing and Binding Co. Building will be redeveloped to include loft apartments and a variety of commercial possibilities, such as a restaurant, brew pub, office or studio space.

................

The Graves Building was built in 1912 and the Roberts & Son Building in 1897. Over the years, the buildings have been home to Duke Brothers Furniture, Vaughan‐Weil Department Store, Lawrence Furniture, King Kredit, Mr. King Furniture, Epps Jewelry and AmSher.

.............

The two four-story buildings together consist of 56,000 square feet plus a 14,000-square-foot basement space. Information from Corporate Realty shows there are more than 50 parking spaces in a lot adjacent to the buildings. Floors one and two will contain office or other commercial space, while floors three and four will have residential units.

The east portion of the Graves Building was redeveloped in 2017 and now includes Shu Shop, Wheelhouse Salon and office space for tech firm Platypi.

Now the western side will come to life as well.

“Retail Specialists is proud to be part of a project that preserves another historic building in downtown Birmingham,” said Rodney Barstein, chief development officer for Retail Specialists. “What makes this even more special is the location in the Theatre District and across from the McWane Science Center. This redevelopment will further help revitalize the entire block and enhance the theatre going experience for the tens of thousands of patrons each year.”

The Lyric Theatre is nearby and the Alabama Theatre is directly across the street from the new project.

Redevelopment plans call for 15 high-end living units consisting of one and two bedrooms.

..............

Plans call for restoring the building’s original light wells and oversized windows and architectural lines to create modern and sophisticated units in the historic shell.

As far as commercial space, the development team said it is in the beginning stages of the project and is willing to work with potential tenants through the layout and design phases. Spaces range from 2,365 square feet to 27,000 square feet.

...............

The project has an estimated completion of summer 2019.