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 Dec. 10, 2014.
Commercial Projects
Avondale
In the small building next door to Beloved Community Church (131-A 41st Street South), a new coffee shop will open soon. The exterior renovations include an aluminum door with sidelights, aluminum windows, adding a cornice atop the parapet, lanterns and gooseneck lamps, and a pergola and glass roll up door to the rear. A dumpster enclosure will also be built. The committee suggested they add container plantings to the seating area in the rear as well as remove the shrubs near the front door. After more detailed discussion, the committee asked for the shop owner to investigate options for the front, whether new plantings or hardscaping for tables.
Status: Approved.
Birmingham Green
After the committee approved the outdoor seating improvements for Edgar’s (501 20th Street North), the owners of the building want to continue the ADA ramp as well as extend the plaza. The design will tie in with the Edgar’s design.
Status: Approved.
Lakeview
Representatives from Sloss Real Estate Company returned to the committee with the engineer’s report requested at a previous meeting. This report reiterated the deterioration in the building (700 28th Street South). The committee’s concerns included the lack of a plan for what will go in the building’s place, as well as drawings depicting the plans and the status of the master planning process for that area. The plan is in preliminary form, but not in condition to be circulated. The committee agreed to allow the circulation of plans and a vote via email.
Status: Carry over.
Midtown
Agenda Item XII – Parkside
In this instance, discussion about the Parkside right of way guidelines refers to the new apartment complex development along Railroad Park, not the establishment across from Avondale Park.
This meeting constituted a formal review presentation for the upcoming guidelines package for the public rights of way in the Parkside/Midtown area. The architects worked with REV, the City of Birmingham, UAB and the property owners for the properties being developed. The new guidelines may be adopted into the Midtown district guidelines.
Status: Approved.
Signage Projects
19th Street North
The committee previously heard the signage requests for Coyote Logistics (1904 First Avenue North), approving the blade sign and asking them to return with the building sign. The new design for the sign will include backlit channel letters on a backer panel.
Status: Approved.
Birmingham Green
The Alabama Telco Credit Union (613 19th Street North) is changing to Avadian. The plans are to install new panels into the existing signage and replace the awnings.
Status: Approved.
Five Points South
The bar, Bacchus on Five Points (1928 11th Avenue South), is changing to SKKY. The new sign will be similar but slightly smaller. A vinyl sign at the entrance will also be installed. A master signage plan was also presented to the committee for review. The committee voted on the master signage plan first. Once that was approved, the committee was no longer required to vote on the actual sign. However, since colors were not addressed in the plan, the owner will need to work with staff for final approval.
Status: Approved the building’s master signage plan.
Midtown
UAB returned to the committee for a second presentation on the digital signage project for the McCallum Building (1918 University Boulevard). One of the committee members explained that the university’s current comprehensive signage plan does not include any language to explain the use of digital signage on campus. Despite the attempts by the school’s representative to list the different ways the sign would be useful, the committee requested to see how this new technology fits with the signage package. In addition, the committee asked to see the sign’s basic dimensions and details about the sign installation.
Status: Carry over.
Residential Projects
Norwood
The neighborhood review committee requested more time to review this case of vinyl siding (1301 32nd Street North). The local guidelines do not allow vinyl siding on homes in this historic district.
Status: Carry over for review by neighborhood committee.
Redmont Park
The homeowners added a roof to an existing deck on their property (3325 Altamont Road). The project came to the committee on a violation since the project should have appeared before the committee prior to construction. The committee requested the vegetation surrounding the deck be replaced as well.
Status: Approved.
Roebuck Springs
A fencing project installed without a permit (402 Balcourt Drive) came in on a violation. Although fencing is usually a zoning item, the case went to court and the judge ordered the owner to present it to the Design Review Committee. The applicant, however, was not in attendance at this meeting.
Status: Carry over.