4th Avenue North: Difference between revisions

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== History ==
== History ==
The stretch of 4th Avenue between [[15th Street North|15th]] and [[19th Street North|19th Street]]s long served as the city's busiest Black business and entertainment district during decades of [[segregation laws|enforced racial segregation]]. It has since been recognized as the "[[4th Avenue Historic District]]" in the [[National Register of Historic Places in Birmingham|National Register of Historic Places]] and as a crucial part of the city's [[Civil Rights District]]. The nonprofit [[Urban Impact]] has coordinated revitalization efforts and special events in the district. In [[2017]] President [[Barack Obama]] created the [[Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument]].


<!-- This is also a good place to discuss the road's historic significance to the black community. -->
In the late 1960s two blocks of 4th Avenue at the eastern end of the city center were abandoned to prepare a site for the new [[Birmingham Post Office]]. In [[1973]] 4th Avenue North was converted from two-way to one-way (westbound) traffic from the Post Office on [[24th Street North]] to [9th Street North]], just west of [[I-65]] in [[Smithfield]]. The work was done as part of the [[Alabama Department of Transportation]]'s TOPICS (Traffic Operations Program to Increase Capacity and Safety) program.
Fourth Avenue originally extended east to [[26th Street North]], but when the [[Birmingham Post Office]] was constructed in the early 1970s, it occupied the space where the street had run.


4th Avenue North was converted from two-way to one-way (westbound) traffic was from [[24th Street North]] to [[9th Street North]] in [[1973]] by the [[Alabama Department of Transportation]]'s TOPICS (Traffic Operations Program to Increase Capacity and Safety) program.
In [[2003]] the [[2004 City Center Master Plan]], drafted by Urban Design Associates of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, recommended returning one-way downtown streets to two-way traffic. In July [[2008]] the city approved matching funds to commission [[Gonzalez-Strength & Associates]] to conduct a traffic study of the proposal. In August [[2023]] the city applied for a "Reconnecting Communities" grant from U.S. Department of Transportation's "Neighborhood Access and Equity" program to support conversion of 4th Avenue North to two-way traffic between [[9th Street North|9th]] and [[24th Street North|24th Street]]s. The $14,556,040 grant was awarded in March [[2024]]. U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg visited Birmingham on [[April 3]] to make the formal announcement.


== Notable locations ==
== Notable locations ==
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* [[Interstate 65]] offramp at [[11th Street North]]
* [[Interstate 65]] offramp at [[11th Street North]]
** 1100: [[Mike's Downtown Shell]]
** 1100: [[Mike's Downtown Shell]]
** 1101: Texaco containing a [[Sneaky Pete's]]
** 1101: [[4th Avenue Marathon]] gas station / [[Sneaky Pete's]] / [[Crazy Caiman's Cajun Chicken]] (2017–), former location of [[Texaco]] gas station (2009–2014), [[Mrs Winner's]] (2009–2015)
** 1129: [[Sera-Tech Biologicals]] & [[Biomat USA]]  
** 1129: [[Sera-Tech Biologicals]] & [[Biomat USA]]  
==== [[12th Street North]] intersects====
==== [[12th Street North]] intersects====
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** 1303: former location of [[V. Savilla]] grocer (1900)
** 1303: former location of [[V. Savilla]] grocer (1900)
** 1319: former location of [[Agnes Darden]] grocer (1900)
** 1319: former location of [[Agnes Darden]] grocer (1900)
** 1325: former location of [[Sanctified Church]] (1929), [[True Vine Spiritualist Church]] (1941)
** 1325: former location of [[Sanctified Church]] (1929), [[True Vine Spiritualist Church]] (1941, 1942)
** 1326: former location of [[C. C. Sandford]] shoemaker (1900)
** 1326: former location of [[C. C. Sandford]] shoemaker (1900)
** 1328: former location of [[John Dumas Restaurant]] (1964)
** 1328: former location of [[John Dumas Restaurant]] (1964)
Line 150: Line 150:
** 1710-1712: former entrance to [[Little Savoy Cafe]] / [[Bob's Savoy Cafe]] (411–415 [[17th Avenue North]] 1937-1958)
** 1710-1712: former entrance to [[Little Savoy Cafe]] / [[Bob's Savoy Cafe]] (411–415 [[17th Avenue North]] 1937-1958)
*** 1710 former location of [[Peterman's Barbecue]] / [[Dixie Cafeteria]] / [[Peterman Barber Shop]] (1927–1929), [[Wilson 5¢ 10¢ to $1.00 Store]] (1940), [[Vaughn 5 & 10 Cent Store]] (1940–1941), [[Julius Peterman]] barber (1940-1949)
*** 1710 former location of [[Peterman's Barbecue]] / [[Dixie Cafeteria]] / [[Peterman Barber Shop]] (1927–1929), [[Wilson 5¢ 10¢ to $1.00 Store]] (1940), [[Vaughn 5 & 10 Cent Store]] (1940–1941), [[Julius Peterman]] barber (1940-1949)
*** 1712: former location of [[Veribest Theatre]] (1915), former location of [[Dixie Theatre]] (1927-1929), [[Allright Parking]] lot (1964)
*** 1712: former location of [[Veribest Theatre]] (1915), [[Dixie Theatre]] (1927-1929), [[Allright Parking]] lot (1964)
** 1714: former location of [[William Tolliver]] peanuts (1940), [[People's Photo Studio]], [[Utopia Cleaners]] / [[Fair Lee Cab Co.]] (1949), [[Thunderbird Restaurant]] (1960), [[Step & Fetch It]] ([[Ernest George]] 1960), [[Lounge Grill]] (1964)
** 1714: former location of [[William Tolliver]] peanuts (1940), [[People's Photo Studio]], [[Utopia Cleaners]] / [[Fair Lee Cab Co.]] (1949), [[Thunderbird Restaurant]] (1960), [[Step & Fetch It]] ([[Ernest George]] 1960), [[Lounge Grill]] (1964)
*** 1714A: former location of [[Charles Johnson]] barbecue (1929)
*** 1714A: former location of [[Charles Johnson]] barbecue (1929)
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*** 1810: former site of [[Everybody's Market]] (1929-1941), [[Bargain Town USA|War Surplus Store]] (1957), [[Shniper's 4th Avenue Clothing]] (1964)
*** 1810: former site of [[Everybody's Market]] (1929-1941), [[Bargain Town USA|War Surplus Store]] (1957), [[Shniper's 4th Avenue Clothing]] (1964)
*** 1812–1822: former location of [[J. Fies & Sons]] livery (1900)
*** 1812–1822: former location of [[J. Fies & Sons]] livery (1900)
**** 1812-1816: former site of [[Car Park Inc.]] parking lot (1964)
**** 1812–1818: former location of [[City Market]] (1911)
***** 1812-1814: former location of [[Clarence Saunders Groceries]] (1929), [[Hill Food Stores|Hill Grocery Store]] (1931-1941)
***** 1812-1816: former site of [[Car Park Inc.]] parking lot (1964)
***** 1816: former location of [[Tolbert & Boone]] market (1927), [[Gulf Coast Meat & Vegetable Co.]] (1929), [[Bloomston's Meat Market]] (1931-1941)
****** 1812-1814: former location of [[Clarence Saunders Groceries]] (1929), [[Hill Food Stores|Hill Grocery Store]] (1931-1941)
**** 1818: former location of [[Hill Food Stores|Hill Grocery Co.]] (1929), [[Sirote's Delicatessen]] delicatessen (1931-1941)
****** 1816: former location of [[Tolbert & Boone]] market (1927), [[Gulf Coast Meat & Vegetable Co.]] (1929), [[Bloomston's Meat Market]] (1931-1941)
***** 1818: former location of [[Hill Food Stores|Hill Grocery Co.]] (1929), [[Sirote's Delicatessen]] delicatessen (1931-1941)
**** 1820-1830: [[One Federal Place]] (built 2002)
**** 1820-1830: [[One Federal Place]] (built 2002)
***** 1820-1822: former location of [[Maurice Letaw]] druggist (1925), [[Piggly-Wiggly]] (1929), Lane Drugs (1931), Restaurant G (2002-2006), Mix (2011-2013), Continental Bakery Downtown (2014-2015)
****** 1822: former location of [[Catanzano Brothers]] produce and fish market (1914-1941)
****** 1822: former location of [[Catanzano Brothers]] produce and fish market (1914-1941)
***** 1824-1830: former location of the [[Fox Building]] (built 1895, demolished 1981), [[John Fox's Sons Groceries]] (1895-1910), [[Roger's Groceries]] (1929), [[Quality Market]] (1931), [[Thomas Feinstein]] second-hand clothes (1941)
***** 1824-1830: former location of [[Fox Building]] (built 1895, demolished 1981)
****** 1826: former location of [[Tom D. And on Vegetables]] and [[Alabama Fish Oyster Co.]] (1929), meat market (1931)
****** 1828: former location of [[H. E. Max]] (1927), [[Elite Market]] (1929), ladies' clothes (1931), [[Chicago Clothing Co.]] (1941), [[Bel-Air Finance Co.]] (1964)
****** 1830: former location of [[Letaw's Drug Store]] (1929), [[Lane Drug Store]] (1931), [[Home Loan & Discount Corp]] & [[Famous Loan & Finance Co.]] (1964)
* south side ([[Block 72]]):
* south side ([[Block 72]]):
** 1801–1811: [[1801 4th Avenue North|4-story office building]], [[U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama]]
** 1801–1811: [[1801 4th Avenue North|4-story office building]], [[U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama]]
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* south side ([[Block 73]]):
* south side ([[Block 73]]):
** 1901-1915: surface parking. former location of [[Birmingham City Hall (1901)|Birmingham City Hall]] (built 1901, demolished c. 1950)
** 1901-1915: [[Park-Rite Parking Deck]] (formerly [[City Parking Deck]]), former location of [[Birmingham City Hall (1901)|Birmingham City Hall]] (built 1901, demolished c. 1950)
*** 1901-1905: former location of [[Birmingham City Hall (1882)|Birmingham City Hall]] (built 1882, demolished 1900)
*** 1901-1905: former location of [[Birmingham City Hall (1882)|Birmingham City Hall]] (built 1882, demolished 1900)
**** 1901: former location of [[Levy Bros. Drugs]] (1929)
**** 1907: [[City Hall Shoe Rebuilders]] (1964)
**** 1903: former location of [[McCain Tailoring Co.]] (1929), [[Dixie Cafe]] (1941)
**** 1909: [[Alabama Reweaving Co.]] (1964)
*** 1907-1909: former location of market hall, [[Birmingham Police Department]] and [[Birmingham Municipal Court]] at rear (1882-1900), [[Austin Music Co.]] (1941)
*** 1911: [[Community Finance & Thrift]] & [[Community Acceptance Co.]] (1964)
**** 1907: former location of [[Blue Ribbon Shoe Shop]] (1923-1929), [[City Hall Shoe Rebuilders]] (1964)
*** 1913: parking deck entrance
**** 1909: former location of [[Wright Office Equipment]] (1929), [[Austin Music Co.]] (1947), [[Alabama Reweaving Co.]] (1964)
*** 1915: [[Gus's Hot Dogs]], former location of [[Chesterfield Co.]] loans (1964)
*** 1911: former location of [[City Hall Barber Shop]] (1929), [[Jefferson County Board of Health]] WPA project bureau (1941), [[Community Finance & Thrift]] & [[Community Acceptance Co.]] (1964)
*** 1913: former location of [[Birmingham Traffic Department]] (1929), [[City Industrial Water]] (1941), [[City Parking Deck]]
*** 1915: [[Gus's Hot Dogs]], former location of [[Cozy Lunch Room]] (1928-1929), [[Woodford Electric Supply Co.]] (1941), [[Chesterfield Co.]] loans (1964)
**** 1915½: [[City Traffic Division]] paint & sign (1941)
** 1917-1933: parking lot
** 1917-1933: parking lot
*** 1917: former location of [[A. R. Collier & Co.]] grocers (1891-1894), [[J. Coleman]] grocery (1900), [[Oliver Chalifoux]]'s music store (1929), [[Meadows Shoe Store]] (1964)
*** 1917: former location of [[A. R. Collier & Co.]] grocers (1891-1894), [[J. Coleman]] grocery (1900), [[Oliver Chalifoux]]'s music store (1929), [[Meadows Shoe Store]] (1964)
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*** 2019: former location of [[Lawson Realty Co.]] (1929)
*** 2019: former location of [[Lawson Realty Co.]] (1929)
*** 2021: former location of [[Birmingham Paint & Glass Co.]] (1924-1929), [[Allright Parking]] lot (1964)
*** 2021: former location of [[Birmingham Paint & Glass Co.]] (1924-1929), [[Allright Parking]] lot (1964)
** 2023-2031: [[Jefferson Corner]] (built c. 1908)
** 2023-2031: [[Jefferson Corner]] (built 1910)
*** 2023: [[Gallery5]] ([[Giani Martin]] & [[Dezmon Stovall]] 2022–), former location of [[Knight Hardware & Electric Co.]] / [[Knight Electric Co.]] (1914-1941), [[Phipps Piano Co.]] (1956-1964), [[Jeffco Finance & Discount Co.]] (1984), [[Fashion Desirable]] consignment
*** 2025: former location of "negro shanty" (1891)
*** 2025: former location of "negro shanty" (1891), [[Stephenson Brick Co.]] (1929), [[Movi-Mart Inc.]] home movie equipment (1941), [[Southland Studio]] photographers (1946), [[Realty Title Co.]] (1964)
*** 2031: former location of two-story residence (1891)
*** 2031: [[ServisFirst Bank]], former location of 2-story dwelling (1891), [[Patterson's Cigar Store]] (1929), [[Par Value Loan Company]] (1984)


==== [[21st Street North]] intersects====
==== [[21st Street North]] intersects====
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*** 2522: former location of [[Sheppard Furniture]] warehouse (1964)
*** 2522: former location of [[Sheppard Furniture]] warehouse (1964)
** south side:
** south side:
*** 2501: former location of [[T. W. Haines]] grocery agent (1887), [[William H. Smith]] grocery (1900), [[Fife & Drum Cafe]] ([[Robert Frost]] 1941-1952)
*** 2501: former location of [[T. W. Haines]] grocery agent (1887), [[William H. Smith]] grocery (1900), [[Fife & Drum Cafe]] ([[Bill Fife]] 1941–1945, [[Robert Frost]] -1952)
*** 2513: former location of [[Fuller Supply Co.]] (1964)
*** 2513: former location of [[Fuller Supply Co.]] (1964)
*** 2515-2523: former location of [[Home Baking Company]] (1920-1964)
*** 2515-2523: former location of [[Home Baking Company]] (1920-1964)
*** 2527: former location of [[Walter Jackson]] barber (1941), [[Mitchell's Barber Shop]] (1964)
*** 2527: former location of [[Walter Jackson]] barber (1941), [[Mitchell's Barber Shop]] (1964)
*** 2529-2531: former location of [[James Despanakis]] restaurant (1928-1941), [[Crystal Lunch Room]] (1964)
*** 2529-2531: former location of [[James Despanakis]] restaurant (1928-1941), [[Crystal Lunch Room]] (1964)
==References==
* Bryant, Joseph D. (August 21, 2007) "Study looks at rerouting 7 one-way streets." {{BN}}
* Garrison, Greg (March 11, 2024) "Birmingham gets $14.5 million federal grant to turn 4th Ave. North into two-way street." {{AL}}
* Koplowitz, Howard (April 2, 2024) "Pete Buttigieg coming to Birmingham on Wednesday to celebrate $14.5 million grant for 4th Avenue." {{AL}}


[[Category:4th Avenue North|*]]
[[Category:4th Avenue North|*]]

Revision as of 15:59, 3 April 2024

Fourth Avenue North is an east-west street running through downtown Birmingham. It runs from Center Street in the west to 24th Street North in the east. From 9th to 24th Streets, the three- to four-lane street is one way westbound.

The road appears again as a two-lane residential street between Interstate 59 and Wahouma Park, west of 72nd Street. It is interrupted by the interstate between 75th and 77th Streets, but then continues from 77th to 88th Place, running between Lynn Park and East Lake Park.

Fourth Avenue runs through a few historic districts, including its own 4th Avenue Historic District (from 16th to 19th Street), the Civil Rights District, and the Loft District. In addition, the buildings at 1914, 1917, 1919, and 1930 are part of the Downtown Birmingham Retail and Theatre Historic District.

History

The stretch of 4th Avenue between 15th and 19th Streets long served as the city's busiest Black business and entertainment district during decades of enforced racial segregation. It has since been recognized as the "4th Avenue Historic District" in the National Register of Historic Places and as a crucial part of the city's Civil Rights District. The nonprofit Urban Impact has coordinated revitalization efforts and special events in the district. In 2017 President Barack Obama created the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument.

In the late 1960s two blocks of 4th Avenue at the eastern end of the city center were abandoned to prepare a site for the new Birmingham Post Office. In 1973 4th Avenue North was converted from two-way to one-way (westbound) traffic from the Post Office on 24th Street North to [9th Street North]], just west of I-65 in Smithfield. The work was done as part of the Alabama Department of Transportation's TOPICS (Traffic Operations Program to Increase Capacity and Safety) program.

In 2003 the 2004 City Center Master Plan, drafted by Urban Design Associates of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, recommended returning one-way downtown streets to two-way traffic. In July 2008 the city approved matching funds to commission Gonzalez-Strength & Associates to conduct a traffic study of the proposal. In August 2023 the city applied for a "Reconnecting Communities" grant from U.S. Department of Transportation's "Neighborhood Access and Equity" program to support conversion of 4th Avenue North to two-way traffic between 9th and 24th Streets. The $14,556,040 grant was awarded in March 2024. U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg visited Birmingham on April 3 to make the formal announcement.

Notable locations

For an alphabetical list of locations, see the 4th Avenue North category.

Smithfield neighborhood

Fountain Heights

12th Street North intersects

13th Street North intersects

14th Street North intersects

15th Street North intersects

16th Street North intersects

The New Deal Barber Shop at 1701 4th Avenue North
View of the 1700 block of 4th Avenue North in 1977

17th Street North intersects

Mewbourne & Spain at 1809 4th Avenue North
The Fox Building at 1824-30 4th Avenue North

18th Street North intersects

Central City

Birmingham City Hall in 1927
1900 block of 4th Avenue North
Southern Hotel at 4th & 20th

19th Street North intersects

BPA Deck 3 addition (2009)

20th Street North intersects

21st Street North intersects

22nd Street North intersects

23rd Street North intersects

24th Street North intersects

References

  • Bryant, Joseph D. (August 21, 2007) "Study looks at rerouting 7 one-way streets." The Birmingham News
  • Garrison, Greg (March 11, 2024) "Birmingham gets $14.5 million federal grant to turn 4th Ave. North into two-way street." AL.com
  • Koplowitz, Howard (April 2, 2024) "Pete Buttigieg coming to Birmingham on Wednesday to celebrate $14.5 million grant for 4th Avenue." AL.com
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