209-211 21st Street North: Difference between revisions
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[[Image: | [[Image:Barber lot sign.jpg|right|thumb|375px|The vacant lot in December 2011]] | ||
'''211 21st Street South''' or, more properly, 211 [[Richard Arrington Jr Boulevard North]], is a 4,000 square-foot parcel located on [[Block 84]] in [[downtown Birmingham]] on the east side of 21st Street adjoining [[2nd Alley North]], across the alley from the [[Jackson Building]] and across the street from the [[City Federal Building]]. | '''211 21st Street South''' or, more properly, 211 [[Richard Arrington Jr Boulevard North]], is a 4,000 square-foot parcel located on [[Block 84]] in [[downtown Birmingham]] on the east side of 21st Street adjoining [[2nd Alley North]], across the alley from the [[Jackson Building]] and across the street from the [[City Federal Building]]. | ||
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The hotel was operating in the 1930s as the [[Milner Hotel]], with an office supply company on the ground floor. Later, with the upper floors removed, it was renovated as a two-story building that at one point housed a Dr Scholl's Foot Comfort Shop. | The hotel was operating in the 1930s as the [[Milner Hotel]], with an office supply company on the ground floor. Later, with the upper floors removed, it was renovated as a two-story building that at one point housed a Dr Scholl's Foot Comfort Shop. | ||
[[Image:Lunsford Hotel.jpg|left|thumb|225px|The Lunsford Hotel. Courtesy Samford Special Collections]] | |||
Former [[Barber Dairy]] president [[George Barber]] purchased the property in the 1990s. In [[2009]] he had the existing building on the site demolished. In September of that year he offered the property for free to anyone pledging to construct a business and occupy the site for a minimum of five years. THe difficulty of securing financing caused several proposals to fall through, and in the meantime, the space was used as an informal dog park by downtown residents. In [[2012]] Barber struck a deal with law student [[Harris Stewart]] to construct the [[Trim Tab Brewhouse]] on the lot. | Former [[Barber Dairy]] president [[George Barber]] purchased the property in the 1990s. In [[2009]] he had the existing building on the site demolished. In September of that year he offered the property for free to anyone pledging to construct a business and occupy the site for a minimum of five years. THe difficulty of securing financing caused several proposals to fall through, and in the meantime, the space was used as an informal dog park by downtown residents. In [[2012]] Barber struck a deal with law student [[Harris Stewart]] to construct the [[Trim Tab Brewhouse]] on the lot. | ||
Revision as of 10:41, 11 May 2012
211 21st Street South or, more properly, 211 Richard Arrington Jr Boulevard North, is a 4,000 square-foot parcel located on Block 84 in downtown Birmingham on the east side of 21st Street adjoining 2nd Alley North, across the alley from the Jackson Building and across the street from the City Federal Building.
In the early 1890s the property, divided in two parcels, was owned by George Lunsford and his wife Susan. In 1892 George constructed the five story Lunsford Building, which he operated as the Lunsford Hotel. In 1894 the hotel became the first home of the Birmingham Medical College, a predecessor to UAB.
The hotel was operating in the 1930s as the Milner Hotel, with an office supply company on the ground floor. Later, with the upper floors removed, it was renovated as a two-story building that at one point housed a Dr Scholl's Foot Comfort Shop.
Former Barber Dairy president George Barber purchased the property in the 1990s. In 2009 he had the existing building on the site demolished. In September of that year he offered the property for free to anyone pledging to construct a business and occupy the site for a minimum of five years. THe difficulty of securing financing caused several proposals to fall through, and in the meantime, the space was used as an informal dog park by downtown residents. In 2012 Barber struck a deal with law student Harris Stewart to construct the Trim Tab Brewhouse on the lot.
References
- Lunsford v. Harrison (November 27, 1901) Supreme Court of Alabama
- Tomberlin, Michael (September 23, 2009) "Free property for anyone who will build, run business in downtown Birmingham, Alabama." Birmingham News
- Diel, Stan (January 20, 2011) "Birmingham businessman George Barber finds few takers for downtown land giveaway." Birmingham News
- Diel, Stan (May 10, 2012) "Brewpub planned for George Barber's free downtown lot." Birmingham News
Exernal links
- Google street view showing building in 2008
- property offer from Barber Companies