Ranch House Motel: Difference between revisions

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[[File:Ranch House Motel postcard.jpg|right|thumb|450px|Postcard view of the Ranch House Motel]]
[[File:Ranch House 1950s postcard.jpg|right|thumb|450px|1950s postcard view of the Ranch House Motel]]
[[File:Ranch House Motel postcard.jpg|right|thumb|450px|1960s postcard view of the Ranch House Motel]]
The '''Ranch House Motel''' was a 2-story, 52-room motel located at 2125-2129 [[7th Avenue South]] in [[Birmingham]]'s [[Southside neighborhood]].
The '''Ranch House Motel''' was a 2-story, 52-room motel located at 2125-2129 [[7th Avenue South]] in [[Birmingham]]'s [[Southside neighborhood]].


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The [[Family Counseling Association of Jefferson County]] kept offices in the motel's east building in the 1960s.
The [[Family Counseling Association of Jefferson County]] kept offices in the motel's east building in the 1960s.


The Ranch House closed in [[1983]], and later reopened as a '''Hospitality Inn''', operated by [[Anil Patel]] and owned by his company, [[AKS Inc.]]. The motel closed in [[2017]] and the site was marketed for redevelopment as a ground lease.
The Ranch House closed in [[1983]], and later reopened as a '''Hospitality Inn''', operated by [[Anil Patel]] and owned by his company, [[AKS Inc.]]. Since then, the motel was the scene of at least two homicides. On October 12, [[List of Birmingham homicides in 2002|2002]], a man was shot to death in a dispute over stolen money. On July 10, [[List of Birmingham homicides in 2011|2011]] a man was killed in his room by blunt-force trauma. Gregory Chancey, a motel worker who had been a drinking buddy to the victim, eventually pleaded guilty to misdemeanor criminally-negligent homicide in that death.
 
The motel closed in [[2017]] and the site was marketed for redevelopment as a ground lease.


The building, occupied illicitly, was burned by arson on [[March 12]], [[2019]]. The fire also destroyed two neighboring businesses, [[Yum Yai]] restaurant and [[Chai Market]], and another vacant building, the former [[22nd Street Jazz Cafe]].
The building, occupied illicitly, was burned by arson on [[March 12]], [[2019]]. The fire also destroyed two neighboring businesses, [[Yum Yai]] restaurant and [[Chai Market]], and another vacant building, the former [[22nd Street Jazz Cafe]].

Revision as of 15:44, 13 March 2019

1950s postcard view of the Ranch House Motel
1960s postcard view of the Ranch House Motel

The Ranch House Motel was a 2-story, 52-room motel located at 2125-2129 7th Avenue South in Birmingham's Southside neighborhood.

The motel was built in 1952, boasting 52 air-conditioned rooms and an outdoor swimming pool. It was owned and operated by Bob and Carl Stapleton.

The Family Counseling Association of Jefferson County kept offices in the motel's east building in the 1960s.

The Ranch House closed in 1983, and later reopened as a Hospitality Inn, operated by Anil Patel and owned by his company, AKS Inc.. Since then, the motel was the scene of at least two homicides. On October 12, 2002, a man was shot to death in a dispute over stolen money. On July 10, 2011 a man was killed in his room by blunt-force trauma. Gregory Chancey, a motel worker who had been a drinking buddy to the victim, eventually pleaded guilty to misdemeanor criminally-negligent homicide in that death.

The motel closed in 2017 and the site was marketed for redevelopment as a ground lease.

The building, occupied illicitly, was burned by arson on March 12, 2019. The fire also destroyed two neighboring businesses, Yum Yai restaurant and Chai Market, and another vacant building, the former 22nd Street Jazz Cafe.

References

  • Robinson, Carol (March 12, 2019) "2 alarm fire at vacant Birmingham hotel intentionally set, destroys 5 buildings." The Birmingham News