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'''Downtown revitalization''' is an ongoing series of large-scale efforts aimed at increasing active use of [[Birmingham]]'s [[downtown Birmingham|downtown]] area, especially following the effects of [[suburbs|suburbanization]] and [[white flight]] in the post-[[World War II]] era. | '''Downtown revitalization''' is an ongoing series of large-scale efforts aimed at increasing active use of [[Birmingham]]'s [[downtown Birmingham|downtown]] area, especially following the effects of [[suburbs|suburbanization]] and [[white flight]] in the post-[[World War II]] era. | ||
Early efforts for revitalization were coordinated through the [[Downtown Improvement Association]], formed in [[1957]]. That group proposed a beautification program for [[20th Street North]], and also sought to relieve traffic congestion, parking shortages and other impediments to navigating downtown by automobile. In [[1959]] they lobbied the [[Birmingham City Commission]] to fund studies for new routes "[[Over the Mountain]]", resulting in the [[Red Mountain Expressway]] and the massive [[Red Mountain cut]]. | Early efforts for revitalization were coordinated through the [[Downtown Improvement Association]], formed in [[1957]]. That group proposed a beautification program for [[20th Street North]], and also sought to relieve traffic congestion, parking shortages and other impediments to navigating downtown by automobile. In [[1959]] they lobbied the [[Birmingham City Commission]] to fund studies for new routes "[[Over the Mountain]]", resulting in the [[Red Mountain Expressway]] and the massive [[Red Mountain cut]]. The group helped push for creation of the [[Birmingham Parking Authority]] which constructed several multi-level parking decks and surface lots in the downtown area. | ||
Meanwhile another group, the [[Downtown Action Committee]], was launched by [[Ferd Weil]] and ''[[Birmingham News]]'' vice-president [[Vincent Townsend]]. The committee sponsored numerous promotional campaigns to entice shoppers to the downtown area, including Christmas decorations, a [[Birmingham Christmas parade]] and the marketing slogan "[[It's Nice to Have You in Birmingham]]". | Meanwhile another group, the [[Downtown Action Committee]], was launched by [[Ferd Weil]] and ''[[Birmingham News]]'' vice-president [[Vincent Townsend]]. The committee sponsored numerous promotional campaigns to entice shoppers to the downtown area, including Christmas decorations, a [[Birmingham Christmas parade]] and the marketing slogan "[[It's Nice to Have You in Birmingham]]". Later Downtown Action Committee projects included a [[Parking Meter Santa Claus]], a [[Sidewalk Art Show]], and the [[Downtown Farmer's Market]] under the [[Elton B. Stephens Expressway]] at [[1st Avenue North]]. | ||
In [[1962]] the Downtown Improvement Association created [[Operation New Birmingham]] as a subsidiary committee charged with preparing and implementing a master plan for structural and economic redevelopment of downtown, dubbed the "[[Design for Progress]]" | The [[Birmingham Green]] plan, developed through a committee of the Downtown Improvement Association, combined private and public funding for improvements to [[20th Street North]] as a pedestrian shopping street. Though many private business pledges never came through, public investment from the city and from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development allowed the $1.9 streetscape project to be realized by Fall [[1973]]. Some building owners took the opportunity to invest in their own properties, such as the renovation of the [[Nabers, Morrow & Sinnige building]]. | ||
==Design for Progress== | |||
In [[1962]] the Downtown Improvement Association created [[Operation New Birmingham]] as a subsidiary committee charged with preparing and implementing a master plan for structural and economic redevelopment of downtown, dubbed the "[[Design for Progress]]". | |||
The plan was created by Harland Bartholemew & Associates of Atlanta, Georgia with assistance from the [[Birmingham League of Architects]]. That plan, which debuted in [[1965]], envisioned major changes to the city center, with plazas and bridges creating a continuous raised pedestrian level, segregated from street traffic below. The plan also called for a historically-themed entertainment district on [[Morris Avenue]] and for a major new multi-venue performing arts and convention center, which was eventually developed as the [[Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex|Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center]]. | |||
Real estate developer [[William Engel]] put together a proposal for a $10 million federal office plaza project in the spirit of the Design for Progress. It would be located near the new [[Birmingham Post Office]] on the eastern end of downtown, and necessitated the demolition of the unused [[Birmingham Terminal Station]]. Though preservationists rallied to prevent the destruction of the landmark Beaux-Arts style station, the spirit of modernism prevailed. The office plaza project, however, was never realized. | |||
Preservationists had more luck with the development of [[Old Town Uptown]], a realization of architect [[Bob Moody]]'s vision for an entertainment district modeled on Gaslight Square in St Louis, Missouri and Underground Atlanta in Atlanta, Georgia which filled a number of vacant warehouses on [[Morris Avenue]] with nightclubs and restaurants like [[Diamond Jim's]], [[Oaks Street]] and [[Victoria Station]]. Though successful, the district's attractiveness proved vulnerable to fear after a visiting businessman was kidnapped, robbed and murdered in [[1977]]. | |||
While many elements of the Design for Progress never materialized, the plan was credited with triggering the development of several of Birmingham's tallest skyscrapers which were constructed in the downtown financial district in the 1970s and 1980s. Development of the [[AmSouth-Harbert Plaza]] in [[1989]] brought the first upscale indoor shopping mall and food court to downtown. It also housed [[Parisian]], the last of the city's once plentiful major department stores to operate in the city center. | |||
==Civil Rights District== | |||
Efforts to bring reinvestment to the western side of downtown gained steam in the early 1990s with plans for a Civil Rights District centered on [[Kelly Ingram Park]] and a new [[Birmingham Civil Rights Institute]]. | |||
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* [[UAB]] | * [[UAB]] | ||
* [[Dart buses]] | * [[Dart buses]] | ||
* [[Lakeview]]/[[Pepper Place]] | * [[Lakeview]]/[[Pepper Place]] | ||
* [[ArtWalk]] | |||
* [[Park Place]] | * [[Park Place]] | ||
* [[City Center Master Plan]] | |||
* [[Domed stadium]] | * [[Domed stadium]] | ||
* [[Railroad Park]] | * [[Railroad Park]]/[[Regions Field]] | ||
* [[ | * [[Uptown]] | ||
Revision as of 10:32, 27 March 2014
Downtown revitalization is an ongoing series of large-scale efforts aimed at increasing active use of Birmingham's downtown area, especially following the effects of suburbanization and white flight in the post-World War II era.
Early efforts for revitalization were coordinated through the Downtown Improvement Association, formed in 1957. That group proposed a beautification program for 20th Street North, and also sought to relieve traffic congestion, parking shortages and other impediments to navigating downtown by automobile. In 1959 they lobbied the Birmingham City Commission to fund studies for new routes "Over the Mountain", resulting in the Red Mountain Expressway and the massive Red Mountain cut. The group helped push for creation of the Birmingham Parking Authority which constructed several multi-level parking decks and surface lots in the downtown area.
Meanwhile another group, the Downtown Action Committee, was launched by Ferd Weil and Birmingham News vice-president Vincent Townsend. The committee sponsored numerous promotional campaigns to entice shoppers to the downtown area, including Christmas decorations, a Birmingham Christmas parade and the marketing slogan "It's Nice to Have You in Birmingham". Later Downtown Action Committee projects included a Parking Meter Santa Claus, a Sidewalk Art Show, and the Downtown Farmer's Market under the Elton B. Stephens Expressway at 1st Avenue North.
The Birmingham Green plan, developed through a committee of the Downtown Improvement Association, combined private and public funding for improvements to 20th Street North as a pedestrian shopping street. Though many private business pledges never came through, public investment from the city and from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development allowed the $1.9 streetscape project to be realized by Fall 1973. Some building owners took the opportunity to invest in their own properties, such as the renovation of the Nabers, Morrow & Sinnige building.
Design for Progress
In 1962 the Downtown Improvement Association created Operation New Birmingham as a subsidiary committee charged with preparing and implementing a master plan for structural and economic redevelopment of downtown, dubbed the "Design for Progress".
The plan was created by Harland Bartholemew & Associates of Atlanta, Georgia with assistance from the Birmingham League of Architects. That plan, which debuted in 1965, envisioned major changes to the city center, with plazas and bridges creating a continuous raised pedestrian level, segregated from street traffic below. The plan also called for a historically-themed entertainment district on Morris Avenue and for a major new multi-venue performing arts and convention center, which was eventually developed as the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center.
Real estate developer William Engel put together a proposal for a $10 million federal office plaza project in the spirit of the Design for Progress. It would be located near the new Birmingham Post Office on the eastern end of downtown, and necessitated the demolition of the unused Birmingham Terminal Station. Though preservationists rallied to prevent the destruction of the landmark Beaux-Arts style station, the spirit of modernism prevailed. The office plaza project, however, was never realized.
Preservationists had more luck with the development of Old Town Uptown, a realization of architect Bob Moody's vision for an entertainment district modeled on Gaslight Square in St Louis, Missouri and Underground Atlanta in Atlanta, Georgia which filled a number of vacant warehouses on Morris Avenue with nightclubs and restaurants like Diamond Jim's, Oaks Street and Victoria Station. Though successful, the district's attractiveness proved vulnerable to fear after a visiting businessman was kidnapped, robbed and murdered in 1977.
While many elements of the Design for Progress never materialized, the plan was credited with triggering the development of several of Birmingham's tallest skyscrapers which were constructed in the downtown financial district in the 1970s and 1980s. Development of the AmSouth-Harbert Plaza in 1989 brought the first upscale indoor shopping mall and food court to downtown. It also housed Parisian, the last of the city's once plentiful major department stores to operate in the city center.
Civil Rights District
Efforts to bring reinvestment to the western side of downtown gained steam in the early 1990s with plans for a Civil Rights District centered on Kelly Ingram Park and a new Birmingham Civil Rights Institute.