Twice a month, the city of Birmingham’s Design Review Committee convenes at the Auburn Urban Studio 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 November 18, 2015.
Due to the holidays, the Design Review Committee will meet once in December. The December recap will be available in January. Regular meetings will resume in 2016.
Commercial Projects
Avondale
The owner of Saturn and Satellite (200 41st St. S) presented plans for a patio addition. The patio will include an orange canopy and will be removable. A café permit has been applied for as well.
Status: Approved
Birmingham Green
Regions Bank (1901 Fifth Ave. N) is adding a dedicated handicapped-accessible parking lot. The site will be regraded for the appropriate slope and will include 19 spaces, all accessible. The staff portion of the lot will be gated and a few spaces will be added for Regions customers. Shade trees and ground cover will include low shrubs, black gum trees, and American horn beam, all of which are native and urban tolerant.
Status: Approved, one recusal
Cultural District
The Trinity CME Church (12th Avenue North and Carraway Boulevard) is adding an office building to its property. The new church building is currently under construction and the office will have a similar style complementary to the church. The landscaping will include dwarf yaupon holly, crepe myrtles, junipers and holly around the dumpster. Shade trees were requested to offset the heat from the parking lot. Concerns about the introverted nature of the site plan were discussed. Another concern surrounded the front rounded canopy on the office building which members of the committee indicated did not feel proportionally correct for the structure.
Status: Carried over
Five Points West
Exterior renovations for a Wings Plus (2231 Bessemer Rd.) were presented to the committee. The tenant plans to remove the old canopy and replace it with a wood-post structure that includes a concrete block knee wall and a blue metal roof. The committee reminded the presenter that phone numbers are not allowed as part of the signage and asked that the canopy roof follow the building’s roofline.
Status: Approved
The city of Birmingham presented plans to update the training site behind Fire Station 20 (4825 Ave. W Ensley). The existing tower needs to be replaced and a burn building built. The plans included a storage and classroom building, which will not be built during this phase of construction. The committee requested they consolidate the two existing curb cuts into one driveway. The landscaping will be updated. The ensuing discussion included concerns about protecting the creek from runoff, the heavy use of impervious surfaces and the lack of fencing.
Status: Approved the structures, but a more complete site plan is needed as well as a discussion on materials and colors for the future building
Lakeview
BBVA Compass Bank (3222 Sixth Ave. S) plans to demolish the former Lakeview Pet Wellness Center building for additional employee parking. The lot will have gate access from 33rd Street South. All curb cuts will be closed except for the one entrance. There will be heavy landscaping along Sixth Avenue South, lighter landscaping along 33rd Street and none along the alley side of the lot. The plans include sod, shrubs, crepe myrtles and cypress trees. A committee member commented on the need for shade trees on the lot and to replace the cypress trees due to the shallow root system that is not conducive to urban planting. The updated landscaping plan can be approved by staff.
Status: Approved demolition; landscaping to return to staff
Midtown
The warehouse attached to the LabCorp building (1801 First Ave. S) needs structural repairs. The skin and roof will be removed and rebuilt. The brick from the site will be salvaged and reused. Screen walls will be added to hide some of the storage, as will angled parking along the street. The truck usage is being reduced to a single loading dock. Additional screening for the dumpster was requested by the committee.
Status: Approved
Theatre District
The former Parisian and Booker T. Washington Insurance Building (1730 Third Ave. N) project is continuing as the Gray Office Building. The exterior will change to a metal panel skin instead of cast concrete. A glass feature wall with LED strip lighting around the perimeter will be installed along 18th Street North. The signage for the building will return.
Status: Approved
Signage Projects
21st Street North
A new tenant in the Title Building/Southpace (300 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. N) is requesting a projecting blade sign. Since the building has multiple tenants, the committee has requested a Master Signage Plan.
Status: Tabled
Five Points South
The committee heard a signage plan for One Highland Place (2145-2151 Highland Ave.). A canopy with a silver painted finish and white acrylic letters will be installed over the storefront. The canopy will be internally lit with can lights and have decorative supports at the connection points on the building. An internally lit, oval monument sign will be at the front of the building.
Status: Approved
The master signage plan for the Pickwick Plaza (2030 11th Ave. S) was presented to the committee. The awnings, building signs and window graphics were addressed by the plan and the owner agreed to maintain the current signage structure. The committee requested a consistency in awning shape and uniform alignment on canopy and window signage, as well as an update to the plan to include the awning, which can be the width of the storefront windows.
Status: Approved, on the condition that staff approve the final plan once the edits are added
Theatre District
A mural is planned for the side of the old Lichter’s building (1820 Third Ave. N). The painting will consist of three images of Vulcan painted in bright colors in the style of Andy Warhol. The mural will be within the confines of the conduit currently attached to the building.
Status: Approved
Residential Projects
Anderson Place
A previously condemned residence (1608 16th Ave. S) is being renovated. The foundation problems are being addressed and the roof replaced. The wood cornice on the front will be replaced with wood, but the high cornice in the rear will be vinyl and metal for maintenance purposes. The neighborhood association previously approved the project.
Status: Approved
Redmont Park
The neighborhood association previously approved an addition to a residence (2605 Arlington Ave.) to accommodate an elevator shaft. The external elevator will be situated behind the existing chimney and be painted a warm grey-green to match the exterior.
Status: Approved