University Place Apartments
University Place Apartments is a 7-story, apartment building on the northeast corner of 18th Street South and 10th Avenue South.
The dramatically modern structure was constructed in 1960 as the 121-room Guest House Motor Inn, part of the "Master Host Inns" chain, which advertised air conditioning, direct-dial telephones, tv, radio and background music in every room and suite as well as a "large and unusually-beautiful" tiled swimming pool, a restaurant with French and American cuisine, convention facilities, free parking, baby sitting service and dancing nightly.
Decorated in a coral and blue color scheme and landscaped by Thomas M. Brooks in a "Deep South-Florida" manner, the hotel combined the services of a luxury hotel and the convenience of a motel. Holley Midgley was general manager and Emil Sevin, formerly of the Mountain Brook Country Club, was head chef and catering manager.
In early 1963 a six-story addition costing $400,000 added 50 rooms. The motel was later rebranded as a Ramada Inn. In the 1960s and 1970s the rooftop nightclub was called the Playroom Lounge.
From 1982-1995 this was owned by UAB and operated as the University Inn. The university closed the inn in April 1995 after it was announced that the Parliament House would re-open later that year.
After its closure, it took nearly three years for its redevelopment. In 1998, Engel Realty Company began its $3.3 million transformation from a hotel into 139 apartment units. Its renovation was complete by late 1999 with the first tenants moving in by that April.
References
- Granger, Charlie (September 1960) "Modern Guest House proud of twin services" Birmingham News - via Birmingham Rewound
- Sanborn Map, Birmingham 1969, Volume 2, Sheet 198
- Business Briefs (March 29, 1995) "UAB to close University Inn". Birmingham News.
- Tomberlin, Michael. (April 8, 1999) "Engel creates unusual mix at former hotel". Birmingham News.
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External links
- University Place Apartments on Emporis.com