Zinszer Building: Difference between revisions

From Bhamwiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
No edit summary
No edit summary
 
(7 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
[[Image:Zinzer Furniture building.jpg|right|thumb|425px|Zinzer Furniture building in November 2011]]
[[Image:Zinzer Furniture building.jpg|right|thumb|425px|Zinzer Furniture building in November 2011]]
The '''Zinszer Building''' is a three-story commercial building with a Victorian cast-iron facade located at 2115-2117 [[2nd Avenue North]] in [[downtown Birmingham]]. It was constructed in [[1889]] by [[Peter Zinszer]] for his "[[Peter Zinszer's Mammoth Furniture House]]" retail business. After his death in [[1894]] the business passed to his widow, [[Rosa Zinszer|Rosa]], who operated it for another decade.  
The '''Zinszer Building''' is a three-story commercial building with a Victorian cast-iron facade located at 2115-2117 [[2nd Avenue North (Downtown)|2nd Avenue North]] in [[downtown Birmingham]]. It was constructed in [[1889]] by [[Peter Zinszer]] for his "[[Peter Zinszer's Mammoth Furniture House]]" retail business. After his death in [[1894]] the business passed to his widow, [[Rosa Zinszer|Rosa]], who operated it for another decade.  


The 30,497<!--or 28,000--> square-foot building continued to serve as a furniture showroom through the 1970s, most recently as [[Beard Furniture]]. The building, considered the finest of the two surviving examples of Victorian cast-iron facades in Birmingham, was placed on the [[National Register of Historic Places in Birmingham|National Register of Historic Places]] on [[October 23]], [[1980]]. It is also a contributing structure to the [[Downtown Birmingham Historic District]], placed on the National Register in [[1992]].
The 30,497<!--or 28,000--> square-foot building continued to serve as a furniture showroom through the 1970s, most recently as [[Beard Furniture]]. The building, considered the finest of the two surviving examples of Victorian cast-iron facades in Birmingham, was placed on the [[National Register of Historic Places in Birmingham|National Register of Historic Places]] on [[October 23]], [[1980]]. It is also a contributing structure to the [[Downtown Birmingham Historic District]], placed on the National Register in [[1992]].
Line 6: Line 6:
In [[1983]] then-owners [[Allen Haskell]], [[John Beard]], and [[Frank Yielding]] applied for a permit to demolish the building for surface parking. Birmingham Director of Urban Design [[Mike Dobbins]] alerted [[Operation New Birmingham]]'s [[Michael Calvert]] of the application and his group successfully lobbied the owners to withdraw the proposal. Instead the building was sold to the [[Historical Preservation Authority of the City of Birmingham]]. The cast-iron facade was restored by [[Robinson Iron]] under the auspices of that authority in late [[1985]], and the interior was renovated for use as offices. [[KPS Group Inc.|Kidd Plosser Sprague]] designed the renovations, which were completed in [[1986]].  
In [[1983]] then-owners [[Allen Haskell]], [[John Beard]], and [[Frank Yielding]] applied for a permit to demolish the building for surface parking. Birmingham Director of Urban Design [[Mike Dobbins]] alerted [[Operation New Birmingham]]'s [[Michael Calvert]] of the application and his group successfully lobbied the owners to withdraw the proposal. Instead the building was sold to the [[Historical Preservation Authority of the City of Birmingham]]. The cast-iron facade was restored by [[Robinson Iron]] under the auspices of that authority in late [[1985]], and the interior was renovated for use as offices. [[KPS Group Inc.|Kidd Plosser Sprague]] designed the renovations, which were completed in [[1986]].  


The [[Spain & Gillon]] law firm and [[Arlington Properties]] moved their offices into the building by [[1987]]. Spain & Gillon purchased the property from the Historical Preservation Authority in [[2001]].
The law firm of [[Spain & Gillon|Spain, Gillon, Tate, Grooms & Blan]] and [[Arlington Properties]] moved their offices into the building by [[1987]]. Spain & Gillon purchased the property from the Historical Preservation Authority in [[2001]].


Spain & Gillon put on the market in April 2017 for $3.4 million as the firm relocated to the [[Financial Center]].
Spain & Gillon put on the market in April 2017 for $3.4 million as the firm relocated to the [[Financial Center]].


In January 2020 the Zinszer Building and an adjoining 12-space parking lot were sold to a group affiliated with the Birmingham office of [[Colliers International]] for just over $2 million. The new owners plan to leverage [[Opportunity Zone]] and [[Historic Preservation Tax Credit]]s to help finance a $3 million update and renovation. [[Designform]] architects and [[RaderMcCary]] contractors were selected for the project, which involved removing a mezzanine between the first and second floors.
In January 2020 the Zinszer Building and an adjoining 12-space parking lot were sold to a group affiliated with the Birmingham office of [[Colliers International]] for just over $2 million. The new owners plan to leverage [[Opportunity Zone]] and [[Historic Preservation Tax Credit]]s to help finance a $3 million update and renovation. [[Designform]] architects and [[RaderMcCary]] contractors were selected for the project, which involved removing a mezzanine between the first and second floors.
[[Montgomery Entities]] relocated its [[Tarrant]] corporate offices to the building.


{{start box}}
{{start box}}
Line 22: Line 24:
==References==
==References==
* {{White-1977}}
* {{White-1977}}
* Birmingham Historical Society (2001) ''Downtown Discovery Tour'' 3rd edition. Birmingham: Birmingham Historical Society ISBN O94399425X
* Birmingham Historical Society (2001) ''[http://www.bhistorical.org/education/Ddt_bk.pdf Downtown Discovery Tour]'' 3rd edition. Birmingham: Birmingham Historical Society ISBN O94399425X
* Calvert, Michael A. (October 7, 2015) "[https://web.archive.org/web/20170406190243/http://michaelacalvert.com/option-on-the-zinzser-building/ Saving Peter Zinszer’s Mammoth Furniture Store]" michaelacalvert.com - accessed via the Internet Archive Wayback Machine, November 6, 2019
* Calvert, Michael A. (October 7, 2015) "[https://web.archive.org/web/20170406190243/http://michaelacalvert.com/option-on-the-zinzser-building/ Saving Peter Zinszer’s Mammoth Furniture Store]" michaelacalvert.com - accessed via the Internet Archive Wayback Machine, November 6, 2019
* Godwin, Brent (April 26, 2017) "One of downtown Birmingham's oldest and most unique buildings hits the market." {{BBJ}}
* Godwin, Brent (April 26, 2017) "One of downtown Birmingham's oldest and most unique buildings hits the market." {{BBJ}}
* Van der Bijl, Hanno (January 17, 2020) "Local investors buy historic downtown building for $1.9M." {{BBJ}}
* Van der Bijl, Hanno (January 17, 2020) "Local investors buy historic downtown building for $1.9M." {{BBJ}}
* Van der Bijl, Hanno (February 25, 2021) "Why pandemic didn’t derail corporate HQ project for Montgomery Entities." {{BBJ}}


[[Category:Zinszer building|*]]
[[Category:1889 buildings]]
[[Category:1889 buildings]]
[[Category:2nd Avenue North]]
[[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Birmingham]]
[[Category:National Register of Historic Places]]
[[Category:KPS Group buildings]]
[[Category:KPS Group buildings]]
[[Category:1986 buildings]]
[[Category:1986 buildings]]
[[Category:Designform buildings]]
[[Category:Designform buildings]]
[[Category:2020 buildings]]
[[Category:2020 buildings]]
[[Category:Downtown Birmingham Historic District]]

Latest revision as of 15:24, 30 September 2023

Zinzer Furniture building in November 2011

The Zinszer Building is a three-story commercial building with a Victorian cast-iron facade located at 2115-2117 2nd Avenue North in downtown Birmingham. It was constructed in 1889 by Peter Zinszer for his "Peter Zinszer's Mammoth Furniture House" retail business. After his death in 1894 the business passed to his widow, Rosa, who operated it for another decade.

The 30,497 square-foot building continued to serve as a furniture showroom through the 1970s, most recently as Beard Furniture. The building, considered the finest of the two surviving examples of Victorian cast-iron facades in Birmingham, was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 23, 1980. It is also a contributing structure to the Downtown Birmingham Historic District, placed on the National Register in 1992.

In 1983 then-owners Allen Haskell, John Beard, and Frank Yielding applied for a permit to demolish the building for surface parking. Birmingham Director of Urban Design Mike Dobbins alerted Operation New Birmingham's Michael Calvert of the application and his group successfully lobbied the owners to withdraw the proposal. Instead the building was sold to the Historical Preservation Authority of the City of Birmingham. The cast-iron facade was restored by Robinson Iron under the auspices of that authority in late 1985, and the interior was renovated for use as offices. Kidd Plosser Sprague designed the renovations, which were completed in 1986.

The law firm of Spain, Gillon, Tate, Grooms & Blan and Arlington Properties moved their offices into the building by 1987. Spain & Gillon purchased the property from the Historical Preservation Authority in 2001.

Spain & Gillon put on the market in April 2017 for $3.4 million as the firm relocated to the Financial Center.

In January 2020 the Zinszer Building and an adjoining 12-space parking lot were sold to a group affiliated with the Birmingham office of Colliers International for just over $2 million. The new owners plan to leverage Opportunity Zone and Historic Preservation Tax Credits to help finance a $3 million update and renovation. Designform architects and RaderMcCary contractors were selected for the project, which involved removing a mezzanine between the first and second floors.

Montgomery Entities relocated its Tarrant corporate offices to the building.

To left:
Daniels Building 		2nd Avenue North, south side
2115-2119 		To right:
parking lot

References

Retrieved from "http://bhamwiki.com/w/index.php?title=Zinszer_Building&oldid=206907"