Morris Avenue
Morris Avenue is a narrow avenue between 1st Avenue North and the Railroad Reservation. Because of its adjacency to railroad depots and services, it rapidly developed into an early commercial and warehouse district in Birmingham's early days. The avenue is named for Josiah Morris, a banker and one of the initial shareholders in the Elyton Land Company.
By the late 1880s Morris Avenue was lined with three and four-story brick warehouses from 21st to 25 Streets.
In 1965 the concept of making the downtown section of Morris Avenue into a protected historic district was presented as one of the recommendations of the "Design for Progress" created by Harland Bartholemew & Associates of Atlanta along with the Birmingham League of Architects.
On April 24, 1973 the downtown section of Morris Avenue, between 21st and 24th Streets, was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Granite cobblestone pavers were re-laid and gas light fixtures replaced along the sidewalks to impart a historical feeling. The area was promoted by the city as an entertainment district.
Nigel Harlan, owner of the Bachelor's Showboat was abducted from his nightclub in 1977 and murdered. His body was later found in Shelby County. The sensational nature of the crime, along with the loss of one of the most active club owners, spelled doom for the fledgling entertainment district.
A large parking lot, a accentuated with lighting, benches and planting islands, was installed on the south side of the avenue in 1988.
In the 1990s the area was at the center of the first residential loft development downtown. Professional offices started moving in be the middle of the decade and the district has evolved into a tight-knit mixed use neighborhood.
References
- White, Marjorie Longenecker (1977) Downtown Birmingham: Architectural and Historical Walking Tour Guide. Birmingham: Birmingham Historical Society.
- Archibald, John (September 28, 1997) "Morris Avenue reborn: The one-time entertainment district is again teeming with activity, now as offices and residential lofts." Birmingham News.