2004 Operation New Birmingham 12 Most Wanted

The 12 Most Wanted was a list of prominent downtown Birmingham buildings in need of renovation created by Operation New Birmingham in 2004. The list sparked interest in most of the properties, but as of 2011 less than half had been renovated, due in part to the 2008-09 Great Recession.

The List

1. City Federal Building, 2026 2nd Avenue North (renovated in 2005)
2. Sears Building, 1500 1st Avenue North (renovated as Innovation Depot in 2007)
3. Blach's Building, 1928 3rd Avenue North (renovated in 2005)
4. Roger's Trading Company Building, 2500 1st Avenue North (renovated in 2007)
5. Jefferson Home Furniture building, 1716 2nd Avenue North (planned renovation as Jefferson Lofts never realized)
6. Brown Marx Tower, 2001 1st Avenue North (condo project never realized)
7. New Ideal Building, 1801 2nd Avenue North (renovation plans on hold until next-door Pizitz Building project is underway)
8. Cabana Hotel, 1631 1st Avenue North (planned renovation as Leer Tower was never financed)
9. Red Cross Building, 2225 3rd Avenue North (no plans for renovation have been made)
10. Alagasco Empire Building, 1918 1st Avenue North (no plans for renovation have been made)
11. Pizitz Building, 1821 2nd Avenue North, (renovation project underway)
12. Stonewall Building, 2308 4th Avenue North, (condo project put on hold in 2008)

References

• Tomberlin, Michael (February 13, 2011) "Downtown dreams: Renovation slow for prominent buildings." Birmingham News