Highland Avenue

The 2900 block of Highland Avenue in October 2006

Highland Avenue is an east-west street that winds for about two miles along the northern slope of Red Mountain in Birmingham's South Highlands.

History

Highland Avenue was constructed by the Elyton Land Company in order to provide access to its 1,500-acre wooded property on South Highlands, which it wished to develop as residential estates. In 1884, with the company celebrating the payment of its first issue of bonds, secretary-treasurer and chief engineer Willis Milner suggested that the time was ripe to turn attention to the property, which was still "unbroken primeval forest", protected from timber poaching by agents of the company.

Given charge of the project, Milner planned a mule-drawn passenger railway beginning at 1st Avenue North and 19th Street and turning south along 22nd Street and branching east and west at 5th Avenue South. The two end-points, after extension, were at Five Points South and the intersection of 29th Street and 3rd Avenue South. Milner then planned, with a detailed topographic survey, the winding thoroughfare that would complete the loop.

Construction of Highland Avenue in 1885

The right of way was set at 100 feet, with no more than 3% slope to accommodate horse-drawn carriages and trolleys. Care was taken to maximize attractive lot frontages wherever possible, and to provide parks in low areas where building would be impractical. Henry M. Caldwell, president of the Elyton Company, suggested the name "Highland Avenue". Milner's plan was located on the ground by his cousin, John A. Milner by April 1, 1884.

Immediately grading and construction was begun on a 25-foot wide roadbed in the center of the right-of-way. When that was completed, during the summer, the artificial lake at Lakeview was created by piping three springs into an excavated basin within the park's boundaries. Lakeview Park was planned as a resort to attract Birmingham residents up into the hillside for pleasure, and to inspect the prospective home sites along the way.

The construction of the rail line itself had to wait for the Alabama Legislature's approval of a change in the company charter. In the mean time, the unpaved roadbed was opened to traffic. With the approval of the legislature, construction of the Highland Avenue Railroad began in earnest in 1885.

Later it was decided to replace the horse-drawn carriages with heavier, steam-powered dummies. The old 16-pound rails were pulled up and replaced with 40-pound rails to accommodate them. The result, which opened on June 26, 1886 was the first dummy line in the South, with trains leaving every 15 minutes, alternating directions on the one-hour round-trip loop.

Part of Highland Avenue was incorporated into the town of Highland in 1887. That section was regraded and curbed by the town. When the City of Birmingham annexed the entire area in 1893, the city graded and curbed the remainder of the avenue.

Renovations

By the 1960s, with the streetcar gone, the wide avenue's center median was frequently used for automobile parking. The issue of preserving accommodations for parking proved to be the key dispute in proceeding with improvements to the avenue. A report created in 1964 by Harold Bartholomew and Associates recommended street and landscape improvements. The Jefferson County Historical Commission was beginning a campaign to preserve the historic character of the street. By 1972 residents and business owners were meeting regularly with city officials to discuss ideas for improvement.

A major revitalization of Highland Avenue finally proceeded in the late 1970s. City Councilor Angi Grooms Proctor convinced the city to commission a landscape architect to oversee the project. Michael Kirk's design narrowed the road from four to two lanes and filled the middle lane with raised planting beds. Angled parking was added in front of apartment and commercial buildings and wide sidewalks were created with new lighting and other features. The project also involved repairs to storm and sanitary sewers.

The first phase, between 23rd Streeet South and 27th Place South, was begun in 1975 and completed in 1977 for $800,000. The second phase, which continued the work to 33rd Street South, was budgeted at $1.3 million, with the general contract awarded to the Donahoo Contracting Company. Older trees were saved wherever possible and new plantings included azaleas, cherry trees, dogwood trees, crape myrtles, sugar maples, scarlet oaks, dwarf yaupon holly, dwarf Chinese holly, and blue rug juniper. Kirk specified materials from local manufacturers where possible, even redesigning the brick panels to match available paver sizes.

Route

The 2100 block of Highland Avenue in February 2006

The western end of Highland Avenue begins at the intersection of 12th Avenue and 20th Street South in Five Points South. It follows roughly the path of 12th Avenue with the exception of the areas of Rhodes Park and Caldwell Park. Highland Avenue is home to many apartments, condominiums, office buildings, restaurants and bars as it winds it way approximately 14 blocks to the Highland Golf Course, where it takes a sharp northward turn. Its eastern end is at the intersection of Clairmont Avenue in the Lakeview District.

Highland Avenue hosts numerous events, the largest of which is the annual Do Dah Day parade and festival.

Notable locations

Five Points South neighborhood

• Terrace Court (built 1907)
• Intersection with 20th Street South/12th Avenue South
  • north side:
    • 2000-2006: Chick-fil-A, former location of 5 Points Gulf service station (1953), Shop-A-Snak, Connie's Famous Foods, Ruby Tuesday (1994-2010), formerly proposed location for Renaissance Plaza
      • 2006: former location of John Gillespy residence (1913)
    • 2012: former location of Steak & Egg Kitchen (1984)
      • 2012B: former location of Alley Cats t-shirts & gifts (1984)
    • 2014: former location of Toddle House restaurant (1964)
    • 2028: William Hassinger residence (built 1898), Hassinger Daniels Mansion Bed & Breakfast (2011-), former location of Leo Bashinsky physician / O K Rubber Welders (1953), Mail-Me-Monday bookkeeping service / Howard Hinton & Associates accountants / Daniels Opticians (1953-1964), R. H. Daniel Real Estate (1964), Chaffin Carousel Carving School (2011-2016)
    • 2030: The Richmond apartments (built 1912), former location of a residence, former location of Inter Se Club (1920)
    • 2040: Highland Manor (built 1961 as Colony Motor Hotel) later the Sheraton Motor Inn, former site of the Highland Town Hall (built 1889), Mary London residence (1953)
  • south side:
    • 2001-2011: Shepherd-Sloss building (built 1928)
      • 2001-2005: Cadillac Cafe (1972-), Louie Louie (1982-1997), Bell Bottoms (1997-2008), Uranus (2009), Crush (2009-)
        • 2001-2003: former location of King Drug Co. (1953-1964)
      • 2005-2009: former location of Carmel Inc. clothier (1953)
        • 2005: former location of John Tomlinson residence (1910), White Swan Laundry (1950s)
        • 2007: former location of Medical Arts Brace Shop (1964), Hair
        • 2009: former location of Klein's Flowers (1964-1980s). Flamingo's
      • 2011: former location of Mussey & Latady antiques (1938), Electrik Maid Bake Shop (1953-1964), Dugan's (1973-2005), Little New Orleans, Twist & Shout, Black Market Bar (2012-)
    • 2015: office building (built 1956), former location of Service Bureau Corp. (1964), Southern Institute (1970s-1980s), Assagio! restaurant, Courtyard Oyster Bar & Grill, Club Red, NV Ultra Lounge
    • 2019: Prudential building (built c. 1955), Scheaffer Eye Center (2010s), former location Southern Institute School of Interior Design (1970s-1990s), Alabama Republican Party
    • 2023: vacant (1953)
    • 2031: former location of Walter Catching Jr (1953)
    • 2035: South Highland Presbyterian Church (built 1892)

• Intersection with 21st Street South/Richard Arrington Jr Boulevard South
  • north side:
    • 2100-2112: Temple Emanu-El (built 1914)
    • 2116: former location of 7-story apartment building (1928-)
    • 2120: former location of Carron-Walker Decorators (1953)
    • 2124: Berkley on Highland (built 1927 as the Kenilworth Arms), later the Berkeley Apartment Hotel (1953-1964)
  • south side:
    • 2101: 2101 Highland Avenue (formerly the A. G. Edwards Building, built mid-late 1960s), former site of the Fairmont Apartments (1953)
    • 2105: former location of Frank Grafford residence (1913)
    • 2111: former location of J. Hayes Williams physician (1953)
    • 2121: Southern Life & Health Insurance building (built 1920s), Progress Bank (2017-), former location of Southern Life & Health Insurance Co. (1920s-), Dominick, Fletcher, Yeilding, Wood & Lloyd attorneys (1978-2012), First Partners Bank (2013-2017)
    • 2123-2131: former location of Margaret Apartments (1953)

• Intersection with 21st Place South
  • north side:
    • 2130: Twenty One Thirty Building, Taylor & Taylor attorneys, former location of Lone Star Cement Co., Weygand Engineering Co. (1964)
    • 2140-2142: Lanny Vines & Associates, former location of Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. (1964)
      • 2142: former location of The Byrd Companies (1986)
    • 2144-2146: Dobbins Building
      • 2144: former location of Margaret Allen School (1906–1934), Louise Cone artist (1938-1953), Lemuel McDaniel artist (1953), Colonial Apartments (1953), National Cement Co. & Longview Lime Co. (1964),
      • 2146: Prewitt Group, former location of Lucy DuBose artist (1938), Colonial Apartments annex / Lad & Lassie Kindergarten (1953), Saxon Dance Studio / WAPI-AM & WAPI-FM / Shell Oil Co. (1964)
    • 2150: former location of Lovett's Flowers (1953-1964), Huggins Flowers
    • 2152: former location of Charles F. Lewis, physician (1953-1964)
    • 2154: Caldwell Bradshaw residence (built 1892), Davis & Norris LLP & Bates & Bone LLP, former location of Nicholson Jones physician (1953), Stanbur Co. management consultants / House of Physical Fitness health studio (1964), Stewart Perry Company (1985)-, Bradshaw House Gallery (1990s), O2 Ideas (2004-2007)
    • 2156: former location of Joseph Dixon
    • 2160: Donald Watkins Jr State Farm Insurance (2014-), former location of Earle Drennen / Sigmond Kahn / Jerome Chapman physicians / Mary Lytle dentist (1953), O2 Ideas (-2007), Complete Health, Summit Products (-2014)
    • 2164: former location of Retta Wertheimer (1953)
    • 2168: former location of Agnes Anderson (1953)
    • 2170 Highland Avenue (built 1961 as the Traveler's Building) Alamerica Bank, Arcadis, Donald Watkins & NMI Mortgage, former location of Thomas Lewis physician / Kenneth Brealand (1953), Travelers Insurance Companies (1964), former location of Complete Health (late 1980s-late 1990s)
    • 2172: parking lot, former location of Laney Chiropractic Clinic (1953, demolished 1990s)
    • 2176: former location of Randall Lawrence
    • 2178: former location of Meer's Kosher Food Mart (1953)
    • 2180: former location of Joseph Winters photographer (1953)
    • 2188: Tom & Jerry's Chevron (1981-), former location of Standard on the Highlands service station
  • south side:
    • 2145-2151: One Highland Place (formerly the Gulf Building, built 1961)
      • 2145: Rheumatology Associates, former location of Germain WIlkinson (1953), IBM & Harbert Construction (1964)
      • 2147: former location of Saxon Dance Studio (1953)
      • 2151: Burke, Harvey & Frankowski & Colon and Rectal Surgical Associates of Birmingham, former location of Huggins Flower Shop (1953-1955), Gulf Oil Co. & Mammy's Pancakes (1964), Todd's (1973), New Tokyo
    • 2155: former location of George Hunter (1953)
    • 2163: former location of Monte Apartments (1953)
    • 2167: former location of Vera Stewart / Roddie Stewart physicians (1953)
    • 2173: Proposed Vesta Apartments. former location of Leo Steiner residence, Vulcan Life & Accident Insurance (1949-1953), Britling on the Highlands cafeteria (1964), and Highland Diagnostics
    • 2177: former location of Jackson Apartments (1953)
    • 2179: Temple Beth-El (built 1926)

• Intersection with Arlington Avenue/21st Way South
  • north side:
    • 2200: former location of U. S. Tire Supply (1953)
      • 2200½: former location of McCoy School for Dancing (1953)
    • 2204: former location of Highland Cleaners & Dyers (1953)
    • 2208: former location of Lane Tile & Marble Co. (1953)
    • 2210: Birmingham Fire Station No. 3 (built 1992), former site of Birmingham Fire Station No. 3 (1927-1992)
    • 2220: Galley & Garden restaurant (2015-), formerly the William Merritt residence (built 1906), Sallie Wise (1953), The Pillars restaurant, Merritt House restaurant (-1999), Veranda on Highland restaurant (1999-2014)
  • south side:
    • 2201: BancorpSouth (built as Weaver Nelson Building) former location of Weaver Nelson Mortgage Co. (1964), Birmingham Police Department South Precinct
    • 2205: former location of Adaline Leibold antiques (1938), Martin Anderson / Martha Green / Robert Green Jr / Claude Blackwell / Hillary Henderson Jr / Donald Sweeney physicians (1953)
    • 2207: former location of Kate Fabretta Specialty Shop dresses (1953-1964)
      • 2207½: former location of Kate Fabretta & Associates interior decorators (1953)
    • 2211: BancorpSouth, former location of Henry Going residence (1913), Ruth Berrey / Ivan Berrey / Hugh Lender / William Warrick / Ernest Pope / Fay Randall / Leonard Bleidt physicians (1953), GMAC / Coca-Cola Co. / Minute Maid Co. (1964), Highland Bank
    • 2217: former location of Simon Newfield physician (1953), Samuel Wainwright physician (1953-1964), Harry Goldner / Robert May / Clay Wells physicians (1964)
    • 2219: former location of John L. Parker residence (1910), Seale Harris Clinic (1953-1964)

• Intersection with 11th Court South
  • north side:
    • 2222-2232: Highland Plaza shopping center (formerly Plaza Stores, built 1938)
      • 2222: Subway, former location of Utopia Cleaners (1953), Mayfield Cleaners (1964-1969), Annabelle & Lulu's, T-Bones
      • 2224: Lovely Nails, former location of Beauty Land (1953-1964), Movie Time
      • 2226: Taj India, former location of Savage's Bakery (1939-1953), Ben Franklin Stores (1941), Pasquale's Pizza & Pasta
      • 2228: Highland Package Store former location of Plaza Variety Store, Stewart's Variety Store (1953), Spivey 5 & 10¢ Store (1964), Lovett's Flowers and Dollar Tree
      • 2230: Western Supermarket (1953-), former location of A & P Super Market
      • 2232: (expansion of supermarket), former location of Lane Drugs, Lane Rexall Drugs (1949), Posey's Plaza Drugs (1953), Cleere Pharmacy (1964)
  • south side:
    • 2231: former location of Lora Schmarkey (1953)

• Intersection with 22nd Street South/southbound Red Mountain Expressway onramp
  • north side:
    • 2236: Highland Shell (1980s-) / Sneaky Pete's / Little India (2019-), former location of Birmingham Baptist Hospital Highland Avenue unit (1953-1964), Joe Epperson's Gulf Oil Co. gas station (1970s)
    • 2240: Bottega Favorita building, Bottega Restaurant and Bottega Café, former location of Burke-Andrews Specialty Shop (1953), Gus Mayer
      • 2240½: former location of William Post (1953)
    • 2244: former location of Selene Whitehall art goods (1938), Plaza Beauty Salon / Plaza Gift Shop (1953), Boy Scouts of America Birmingham Area Council (1964)
    • 2250: Highland Plaza Condominiums (built 1924 as Highland Plaza Apartments)
  • south side:
    • 2235: former location of apartment building (1953)
    • 2245: former location of Maud Elliot (1953)
    • 2251-2255: Highland Towers apartments (built 1951), former location of the offices of Birmingham Weekly, former site of the E. H. Cabaniss residence)
      • 2253: Freddy's Wine Bar (2018-), former location of Highland Towers Apothecary & Drug (1953), Highland Towers Sundry Shop (1964), Highland Booksmith, Highland Coffee Company
      • 2255: former office of Owen Hughes physician (1953), Walter Haynes physician (1953-1964)
• Avenue continues over Red Mountain Expressway on Highland Avenue Overpass

Highland Park neighborhood

1968 photograph of a boarding house at 2608 Highland Avenue

• Intersection with 23rd Street South
  • 2300: former location of John Jenkins Jr medical office (1964)
  • 2310: Phares Apartments
  • 2312: Gordon Court Apartments
  • 2311: Crescent Building (Brice Building Company, Sirote & Permutt, Koch Aesthetic Dentistry)
  • 2313: former location of John Carroll Convent (1964)
  • 2217: former location of John Carroll Catholic High School (1964)
  • 2320: 2320 Highland Avenue office building
  • 2325: former location of Bishop Toolen's Catholic Center (1964)
• Caldwell Park
  • 2401: Highland Crescent, former location of the Eli Smith residence

• Intersection with Milner Crescent/Highland Crescent
  • 2507: First Lutheran Church
• Intersection with Milner Street/Caldwell Avenue
  • 2525: Clivenden Court Apartments
  • 2535: Parklan Apartments
  • 2541: former location of Jaycees Haunted House
  • 2545: Highland View office building
• Intersection with 26th Street South/Niazuma Avenue
  • 2600: 2600 Highland, formerly the Otto Marx residence and Mary Lewis Convalescent Center
  • 2601: former location of Southern Medical Association (1964)
  • 2608: The Store on Highland, formerly a house used as a boarding house; Green Central Station
  • 2620: Hanover Court condominiums
  • 2625: Kingsridge Condominiums, former location of the Samuel Adler residence
  • 2621: Ferd Caheen residence

• Intersection with 27th Street South
• Intersection with Highland Court
• Rhodes Park
  • 2700-2704: Colonial Apartments
  • 2708: former location of Highland Terrace Garden restaurant (1953-1964)
  • 2717: Park Tower (formerly Park Tower Apartments)
  • 2725: former location of Sam Will John residence (1910)
  • 2727: Highland Condos, former site of George Cruikshank residence
• Intersection with 27th Place South
  • 2731-2737: "Three sisters"
    • 2731: George Harris residence, former location of Green Apartments (1964)
    • 2733: Robert Warner residence
    • 2737: Eugene Enslen residence, Trimmier Law Firm
  • 2732: former location of Knights of Columbus hall (1964)

• Intersection with 28th Street South
• Intersection with 28th Place South
  • 2801: former location of Tom Joy residence, Davis Dress Shop (1964)
  • 2803: Unity of Birmingham
  • 2807: Rhodes Park Manor apartments
  • 2815-2823: Highland Terrace apartments
  • 2828: James Donnelly residence (built 1906)
  • 2831: Greenbrier at the Altamont, formerly Altamont Apartments with Altamont Restaurant/George's Grill
    • 2827: Pilates on Highland, former location of Gibbs-Doster Drug Co. (1964), Title Books wholesaler (1971), Strawberry Fields Yogurt Garden (1983-1993), Celestial Realm coffee house (1990s), Lodestar Books
    • 2829: former location of Christian Science Reading Room, Pantsari Architecture, SouthTrust Bank branch office
    • 2831: former location of Altamont Beauty Salon
  • 2834: Mortimer Jordan residence (built 1906-1908)
  • 2835: former location of The Party Shoppe restaurant (1964)
  • 2838: former location of Birmingham Civic Ballet School (1964)
  • 2848: Stephen Thompson residence
• Intersection with 29th Street South
  • 2900: apartment building, former site of William Rushton residence
  • 2901: former site of Eugene Brown residence (built 1902, demolished 1961)
  • 2904:
  • 2906: Crews Apartments
  • 2908: Women's Club House (built 1910)
  • 2909: Sheraton Apartments (built 1951)
• Intersection with 30th Place South
• Rushton Park
  • 2911: Sheraton Laundry, former location of Mullendore Drug Co. (1964)
  • 2913: former location of Culpepper Exum residence
  • 2915: O'Henry's, former location of Mayfield Cleaners (1964-1969), News Break news stand (1986), Highlands Floral Design, Clay Scot Artworks
  • 2917-2921: ROJO
    • 2917: former location of Highland Music, Triple Platinum salon
    • 2919: former offices of Jeff Bagwell, Elbon Christian and William K. Blake, architects (1964)
    • 2921: former location of Sheraton Grocery (1964), Highland Market
  • 2927: Montcalm Apartments, formerly Havenwood Apartments

• Intersection with 30th Street South
  • 3005-3017: Avalon Condominiums
  • 3075: IPC parking lot, former location of Misses Howard School

• Intersection with 31st Street South (joined briefly)
• Intersection with Cliff Road
  • 3100: Independent Presbyterian Church (1926-)
  • 3116: former location of 1st Church of Christ Scientist (1950-)
  • 3121: former location of The Forest Court apartments

• Intersection with 32nd Street South
• Intersection with 33rd Street South/12th Avenue South/Highland Drive

• • 3370: former location of Archer Gibson residence (1913)
  • 3466: former location of Mary E. Newman's Pure Pork Sausage (1923)

Forest Park neighborhood

• Highland Park Golf Course (former site of Lakeview Park)
• Intersection with Clairmont Avenue

References

• Milner, Willis J. (1911) "History of Highland Avenue". typescript. Birmingham Public Library Archives., rpt. in Johns-1979
• "Americana—It Could Be This Gently Winding, Shady Avenue Of Churches" (December 10, 1949) Birmingham News - via Birmingham Public Library Digital Collections
• Alexander, Martha (June 28, 1961) "Old Highland-av mansions bow to progress" The Birmingham News - via Birmingham Public Library Digital Collections
• Polk's Birmingham (Jefferson County, Ala.) City Directory (1964) Richmond, Virginia: R. L. Polk & Co.
• Casson, Barbara (April 3, 1972) "Parking a problem on Highland-Av" Birmingham Post-Herald. (Via Birmingham Public Library Digital Collections.)
• "Amid protests— Restoration of Highland Ave. about to begin." (August 17, 1975.) The Birmingham News, page 4-B. (Via Birmingham Public Library Digital Collections.)
• Stevens, Deborah L. (April 19, 1979) "Highland Avenue, street with proud history, starts new phase" Birmingham News. (Via Birmingham Public Library Digital Collections.)
• Johns, Lyn (July 1979) "Early Highland Avenue and the Magic City, 1884-1893 Including Willis J. Milner's 'History of Highland Avenue'." Journal of the Birmingham Historical Society. Vol. VI, No. 2, pp. 33-43
• Morris, Philip (1988) "Urban Design: Everybody's Business: Birmingham" Design Alabama, Vol. 1, No. 2, pp. 10-11
• Brock, Glenny (May 2008) "Traversing this thoroughfare; A grand walk on Highland Avenue." Birmingham Weekly

External links

• Highland Avenue photographs on Flickr.com