Birmingham: 10 blocks of 1st Avenue South - Part II

dcd829 · July 23rd, 2006, 10:17 PM

Okay, the rest of my 1st Avenue South tour:

Past the Red Mountain Expressway bridge there are a lot of abandonded railyards that new construction is taking place on. Most of this work has been done in the past two years, spurred by the development pictured in Part I of my tour and by the booming Pepper Place neighborhood once block to the south (next weekend's tour, weather permitting)

This site will soon be home to a three story building that will house a new headquarters for the Caroll and Greene Group, an up and coming general contractor as well as loft codos. The city view is pretty awesome from this site.

Montgomery based architecture and engineering firm, who is designing CGG's new building also built this new structure for themselves last year, located at 1st Avenue South and 27th Street South. It's an interesting take on some of the older stuff from Part I, though I think it sits too far off of 1st. All of this land was at one time, railyards. You can see the backs of some ugly 1960's era warehouses in some of these shots.

There is another huge parcel of land next to GMC waiting for development. I believe its owned by Sloss Development, which renovated Pepper Place in the late 1990's and is known for its urban projects. This site is the corner of 1st and 28th.

Across the street is the Alabama Ballet Foundation. Three years ago this building was the absolute only thing on this stretch of road!

The most exciting development in this portion of 1st Avenue South is a multi-use development called Seaboard Yard--named for the rail line which was ran through the site. One component of the development is these urban townhomes.

Each unit is this wide:

Next door, another building, almost complete, will house the Lamb Firm (legal services) as well as several other companies. Firm principal Archie Lamb will live in a loft on the top floor. The view of the city and of Sloss Furnaces from this site is amazing.

The Seaboard Yard development was designed by Cohen Carnaggio Reynolds, a pioneer in urban design. Also responsible for SoHo in Homewood and numberous loft conversions downtown, the firm built its own headquarters at Seaboard which doubles as a residence for firm principals Tammy Cohen and husband Richard Carnaggio. It's pretty darn modern!

I like the way CCR's abstract geometry is reflected in the eastern facade of the Lamb Building which faces CCR.

The last couple of blocks are wide open. All is owned by Sloss Development, as are the warehouses along 2nd Avenue South beyond. No plans have been announced yet, but I am sure more are on the way. I'll keep you posted!

krazeeboi · July 24th, 2006, 01:16 AM

I like!

panamaboy9016 · July 24th, 2006, 02:10 AM

i had no idea that Birmingham had a little skyline!

Silicon Francisco · July 24th, 2006, 02:57 AM

Those townhomes blend in uncannily.

DallasTexan · July 24th, 2006, 02:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by panamaboy9016

i had no idea that Birmingham had a little skyline!

Whuuuut?

Raleigh-NC · July 24th, 2006, 03:29 AM

Very industrial look. Plenty of potential, indeed

Thanks for the photos!!!

Vulcan · July 24th, 2006, 04:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by panamaboy9016

i had no idea that Birmingham had a little skyline!

panama"boy" - the obsesion with size could be a manifestation of ones insecurities

Silicon Francisco · July 24th, 2006, 04:56 AM

I think he said "little skyline" because nobody knew there even was one. Go little skyline go!

dcd829 · July 24th, 2006, 05:11 AM

better than none at all! that is, admittedly, not the best angle to view it from...

Vulcan · July 24th, 2006, 06:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silicon Francisco

I think he said "little skyline" because nobody knew there even was one. Go little skyline go!

Okay I now understand - my apology goes out to Panamaboy - my bad

***I-275westcoastfl*** · July 24th, 2006, 06:17 AM

Up close those brick townhouses in my opnion are ugly maybe its just me but nice to see infill happening.

LSyd · October 7th, 2006, 12:22 AM

i always found 1st Ave S to be an interesting stretch, especially the grit. post some more pics, please.

-

yakirz · October 8th, 2006, 01:51 AM

B'ham's skyline is nice, but not fitting a city of ~1 million. Of course the proximity to the airport and the height restrictions don't help, but you'd think there'd be more ~35 story buildings at least.

LSyd · October 8th, 2006, 05:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yakirz

B'ham's skyline is nice, but not fitting a city of ~1 million. Of course the proximity to the airport and the height restrictions don't help, but you'd think there'd be more ~35 story buildings at least.

-

July 23rd, 2006, 10:17 PM	#1
dcd829 dcd829 Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Mountain Brook/Birmingham, AL Posts: 34 Likes (Received): 0	Birmingham: 10 blocks of 1st Avenue South - Part II Okay, the rest of my 1st Avenue South tour: Past the Red Mountain Expressway bridge there are a lot of abandonded railyards that new construction is taking place on. Most of this work has been done in the past two years, spurred by the development pictured in Part I of my tour and by the booming Pepper Place neighborhood once block to the south (next weekend's tour, weather permitting) This site will soon be home to a three story building that will house a new headquarters for the Caroll and Greene Group, an up and coming general contractor as well as loft codos. The city view is pretty awesome from this site. Montgomery based architecture and engineering firm, who is designing CGG's new building also built this new structure for themselves last year, located at 1st Avenue South and 27th Street South. It's an interesting take on some of the older stuff from Part I, though I think it sits too far off of 1st. All of this land was at one time, railyards. You can see the backs of some ugly 1960's era warehouses in some of these shots. There is another huge parcel of land next to GMC waiting for development. I believe its owned by Sloss Development, which renovated Pepper Place in the late 1990's and is known for its urban projects. This site is the corner of 1st and 28th. Across the street is the Alabama Ballet Foundation. Three years ago this building was the absolute only thing on this stretch of road! The most exciting development in this portion of 1st Avenue South is a multi-use development called Seaboard Yard--named for the rail line which was ran through the site. One component of the development is these urban townhomes. Each unit is this wide: Next door, another building, almost complete, will house the Lamb Firm (legal services) as well as several other companies. Firm principal Archie Lamb will live in a loft on the top floor. The view of the city and of Sloss Furnaces from this site is amazing. The Seaboard Yard development was designed by Cohen Carnaggio Reynolds, a pioneer in urban design. Also responsible for SoHo in Homewood and numberous loft conversions downtown, the firm built its own headquarters at Seaboard which doubles as a residence for firm principals Tammy Cohen and husband Richard Carnaggio. It's pretty darn modern! I like the way CCR's abstract geometry is reflected in the eastern facade of the Lamb Building which faces CCR. The last couple of blocks are wide open. All is owned by Sloss Development, as are the warehouses along 2nd Avenue South beyond. No plans have been announced yet, but I am sure more are on the way. I'll keep you posted!

July 24th, 2006, 01:16 AM	#2
krazeeboi Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: metro Atlanta Posts: 4,752 Likes (Received): 2	I like! __________________ You can't win, you can't break even, and you can't get out of the game!

July 24th, 2006, 02:10 AM	#3
panamaboy9016 I'm Panamerupean!!!!!!! Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Peachtree City,GA Posts: 1,556 Likes (Received): 0	Hm... i had no idea that Birmingham had a little skyline! __________________ PANAMA , FUTURE FIRST WORLD COUNTRY

July 24th, 2006, 02:57 AM	#4
Silicon Francisco Bay Area purchased. Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Thank you! Posts: 615 Likes (Received): 0	Those townhomes blend in uncannily. __________________ ________________________

July 24th, 2006, 03:29 AM	#6
Raleigh-NC Registered User Join Date: May 2004 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 6,349 Likes (Received): 0	Very industrial look. Plenty of potential, indeed Thanks for the photos!!! __________________ Raleigh MSA Raleigh MSA Images Visit this thread on my hometown (Kalamata, Greece) and this one, too. The right decision

July 24th, 2006, 04:56 AM	#8
Silicon Francisco Bay Area purchased. Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Thank you! Posts: 615 Likes (Received): 0	I think he said "little skyline" because nobody knew there even was one. Go little skyline go! __________________ ________________________

July 24th, 2006, 05:11 AM	#9
dcd829 dcd829 Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Mountain Brook/Birmingham, AL Posts: 34 Likes (Received): 0	better than none at all! that is, admittedly, not the best angle to view it from...

July 24th, 2006, 06:17 AM	#11
*I-275westcoastfl* Jestem Hardkorem Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Clearwater, Florida Posts: 5,538 Likes (Received): 29	Up close those brick townhouses in my opnion are ugly maybe its just me but nice to see infill happening.

October 7th, 2006, 12:22 AM	#12
LSyd Megalomaniac Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Bavaria, Germany Posts: 3,984 Likes (Received): 30	i always found 1st Ave S to be an interesting stretch, especially the grit. post some more pics, please. - __________________ "To be fair to LSyd, he does have an eye for graffiti, dereliction and stray souls." - gleegieboy

October 8th, 2006, 01:51 AM	#13
yakirz Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: Augusta (GA), Mobile (AL), Hilton Head Island (SC) Posts: 637 Likes (Received): 0	B'ham's skyline is nice, but not fitting a city of ~1 million. Of course the proximity to the airport and the height restrictions don't help, but you'd think there'd be more ~35 story buildings at least. __________________ ROLL TIDE!!! "Guess what? I got a fever! And the only prescription... is more cowbell!" I beg your pardon, Mama, what did you say? My mind was drifting off on Martinique Bay. It's not that I'm not interested, you see; Augusta, Georgia, is just no place to be. An American Dream

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