5th Avenue North: Difference between revisions

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** 2130: former location of [[Studebaker Birmingham]] and [[Superior Engraving Company]]
** 2130: former location of [[Studebaker Birmingham]] and [[Superior Engraving Company]]
* Intersection with [[22nd Street North]]
* Intersection with [[22nd Street North]]
** [[Park Place (Hope VI project)]]
** former location of [[Bryan's Lounge]]
** former location of [[Bryan's Lounge]]
** 2224: former site of [[Downtowner Motor Inn]]/[[National 9 Inn]]
** 2224: former site of [[Downtowner Motor Inn]]/[[National 9 Inn]]
* Intersection with [[23rd Street North]]
* Intersection with [[23rd Street North]]
** 2300: [[Bankhead Towers]] (formerly [[Bankhead Hotel]])
** 2300: [[Bankhead Towers]] (formerly [[Bankhead Hotel]])
** [[Park Place (Hope VI project)]]
** 2305: [[Jimmie Hale Mission#Jessie's Place|Jessie's Place]]
** 2305: [[Jimmie Hale Mission#Jessie's Place|Jessie's Place]]
** 2311: former site of [[Gulas Restaurant and Lounge]]
** 2311: former site of [[Gulas Restaurant and Lounge]]
** 2317: former location of [["Happy" John Bollas Barbecue]]
** 2317: former location of [["Happy" John Bollas Barbecue]]
* Intersection with [[24th Street North]]
* Intersection with [[24th Street North]]
** [[Park Place (Hope VI project)]]
* Intersection with [[25th Street North]]
* Intersection with [[25th Street North]]
** [[Park Place (Hope VI project)]]
* Intersection with [[26th Street North]]
* Intersection with [[26th Street North]]
** 2600: former site of [[Gus Jebeles (shopkeeper)|Gus Jebeles]]' shop, [[Magic City sign]] and [[Birmingham Terminal Station]]
** 2600: former site of [[Gus Jebeles (shopkeeper)|Gus Jebeles]]' shop, [[Magic City sign]] and [[Birmingham Terminal Station]]

Revision as of 10:37, 22 January 2012

5th Avenue North is a downtown street in Birmingham's northside. It ends at a drainage headwall for Valley Creek at 7th Street North to the west and becomes Messer Airport Highway to the east as it crosses below the Elton B. Stephens Expressway and the Norfolk Southern Railroad.

The eastern end of 5th Avenue North downtown was once the principal entranceway into Birmingham by rail, as it was the site of the Birmingham Terminal Station. Many of Birmingham's early hotels were constructed along 5th Avenue heading west toward 20th street from the station.

The intersection of 5th Avenue North with 24th Street North is close to the geographical center of Birmingham. A large storm culvert extends from downtown to I-65 below 5th Avenue North.

There is a short, block-long strip of 5th Avenue North adjacent to Forest Hill Cemetery in Woodlawn and another dead-end section between Trotwood Park and I-59. A longer section of 5th Avenue North is located in East Lake between 73rd and 90th Streets. An unconnected short dead-end section can also be accessed by 91st Street North near Zion Memorial Gardens.

History

In October 1958 5th Avenue North was converted into a four-lane thoroughfare by eliminating on-street parking from Bush Boulevard in the west to 41st Street in Avondale. The move was expected to increase the street's traffic-carrying capacity by 30 percent and was part of a traffic plan by which 1st and 5th Avenues would serve as cross-town thoroughfares while 2nd, 3rd and 4th would serve for bus traffic and as connectors to the downtown business district. The installation of new coordinated traffic signals and the removal of obsolete streetcar wires was part of the conversion.

Notable locations

References

  • "Fun facts, historical tidbits and tips to find your way around Birmingham from traffic engineer John Garrett." (January 2, 2007) Birmingham News
  • "Fifth Avenue Becomes Through-Street" (October __, 1958) Birmingham News
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