Twice a month, the city of Birmingham’s Design Review Committee convenes to discuss plans to make alterations to structures that fall within one of the city’s many historic and commercial revitalization districts. This column summarizes recent DRC activity, with projects grouped by type and location. This edition of Design Review recaps the DRC meeting from Nov. 5, 2014.
Commercial Projects
Birmingham Green
After staff approved the interior renovations, the H2 Office project (2102 First Avenue North) was stopped when unapproved work began on the exterior. The site, adjacent to the Brown Marx Building, is currently empty. The ground floor will house the H2 Real Estate Office. A new wood storefront will be installed in the existing opening and will feature a recessed entry, plus a garage door will be put in at the rear. The upper two floors of the building will become part of the Brown Marx project and will be accessible from the adjacent site. In addition to the renovations, H2 plans to hang a blade sign and vinyl window signage. A right-of-way agreement will be needed for the blade sign. The scaffolded walkway in front of the storefront will be removed once the renovation is complete.
Status: Approved.
Lakeview
At the Oct. 8 meeting, changes to the Iron City Lofts project (2719 Fourth Avenue South) were tabled pending a work session with the committee. While the redesigned façade is not considered the most ideal, the committee feels this is the best option under the circumstances. The project lighting and signage will need to be presented to the committee at a later meeting.
Status: Approved.
Signage Projects
Midtown
Chicken Salad Chick is moving into a recently renovated multi-tenant building (2118 7th Avenue South). This sign deviates from the building’s master signage plan, mainly due to the external electrical conduit on the rear and the logo structure. The proposed signage does not exceed the allowed square footage. Because the building has a master signage plan, either the owner needs to amend the plan or a sign redesign by the tenant is necessary. The committee agreed to handle this matter via email.
Status: Tabled.
UAB representatives presented a sign plan for the eastern gateway to campus (2029 University Boulevard). The uplit sign will signal drivers to the eastern border of the UAB campus at Richard Arrington Jr. Boulevard. Three spaces of the adjoining parking lot will be removed to accommodate the sign and the design is consistent with the University’s master signage plan.
Status: Approved.
UAB’s second agenda item was for a logo and digital sign on the McCallum Building (1918 University Boulevard). The idea is to convey information to the west-bound traffic on University. The presentation did not include any rules for types of copy, frequency of changes, etc.
Status: Tabled, for dimensions and digital sign rules.
Residential Projects
Norwood
The Norwood Community Gardens (Norwood Boulevard, 17th Avenue North, and 13th Avenue North) are in need of fencing and sheds. The local neighborhood committee approved the designs, which reflect the arts and crafts style of the neighborhood. These gardens are located on vacant lots taken by the state and purchased by the Norwood Community Center, which is working with UAB on health initiatives for the neighborhood. A fourth plot in the program is the home of the Junior Master Gardener summer program at Norwood Elementary School.
Status: Approved.
Red Mountain Park
A Red Mountain Park homeowner helped present a residential driveway project (2811 Argyle Road). The neighborhood rejected the project as presented, although they noted a modified plan could likely be approved. As presented, the project would put a curved driveway in the front yard of the residence, also requiring an additional curb cut. The homeowner argued this as a safety issue. The committee expressed concerns about the second curb cut and asked if the traffic engineering department had been consulted (they had not). The design packet included a modification that removed the curb cut and allows for drivers backing out of the driveway to turn around and exit with better visibility. The alternate design, including a cobblestone parking pad, was approved.
Status: Approved.
Appleseed Workshop presented the final materials list for their new residential project (3341 Altamont Road). The site and structure plans and previously been approved. The new driveway will follow the path of the old driveway and the minimal number of trees will be removed, all toward the rear of the property. The exterior will be cedar and hardie board with a gray color scheme and ivy plantings on concrete portions. The neighborhood association has approved the materials.
Status: Approved, with one recusal.