Highland Avenue: Difference between revisions

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Line 155: Line 155:
* Intersection with [[23rd Street South]]
* Intersection with [[23rd Street South]]
** north side:
** north side:
*** 2300: former location of [[Marye Dabney]] / [[LeRoy Kincannon]] / [[Wilmot Littlejohn]] physicians / [[William McCracken]] dentist (1953), [[John Jenkins Jr]] physician (1953-1964)
*** 2300: former location of [[Marye Dabney]] / [[LeRoy Kincannon]] / [[William McCracken]] dentist (1953), [[Wilmot Littlejohn]] physicians (1953-1959), [[John Jenkins Jr]] physician (1953-1964), [[Edward Peterson]] physician (1959-1964)
*** 2306: former location of [[Home for the Aged]] (1953)
*** 2306: former location of [[Home for the Aged]] (1953)
*** 2310: [[Phares Apartments]] (1953-)
*** 2310: [[Phares Apartments]] (1953-)
Line 163: Line 163:
*** 2320-2330: [[2320 Highland Avenue]] office building
*** 2320-2330: [[2320 Highland Avenue]] office building
**** 2320: former location of [[Zelma Youell]] (1953)
**** 2320: former location of [[Zelma Youell]] (1953)
**** 2326: former location of [[David R. Moore]] (1953)
**** 2326: former location of [[David R. Moore]] (1953), [[Nathaniel Brantley]] / [[John C. White]] / [[George Graham]] physicians (1959)
**** 2330: former location of [[Lavell Nalley]] (1953)
**** 2330: former location of [[Lavell Nalley]] (1953)
** south side:
** south side:
Line 180: Line 180:
** 2525: [[Clivenden Court Apartments]] (1953)
** 2525: [[Clivenden Court Apartments]] (1953)
** 2535: [[Parklan Apartments]] (1953)
** 2535: [[Parklan Apartments]] (1953)
** 2541: former location of apartments (1953), [[Jaycees Haunted House]]
** 2541: former location of apartments (1953-1959), [[Jaycees Haunted House]]
** 2545: [[Highland View office building]]
** 2545: [[Highland View office building]]
** 2595: former location of [[Helene Adler]] (1953)
** 2595: former location of [[Helene Adler]] (1953)
Line 187: Line 187:
** north side:
** north side:
*** 2600: [[2600 Highland]] condominiums (built 2008), former location of the [[Otto Marx residence]] (built 1909, demolished 2005), [[Lewis Clark]] (1914), [[Mary Lewis Convalescent Center]] (1953-2005)
*** 2600: [[2600 Highland]] condominiums (built 2008), former location of the [[Otto Marx residence]] (built 1909, demolished 2005), [[Lewis Clark]] (1914), [[Mary Lewis Convalescent Center]] (1953-2005)
*** 2608: former location of a residence, later used as a boarding house
*** 2608: former location of a residence, later used as a boarding house & apartments (1959-1960s)
**** 2608A: [[EATS Highland]] (2019-), former location of [[Green Central Station]] (2012-2014)
**** 2608A: [[EATS Highland]] (2019-), former location of [[Green Central Station]] (2012-2014)
**** 2608B: former location of [[The Store on Highland]] (-2016)
**** 2608B: former location of [[The Store on Highland]] (-2016)
Line 194: Line 194:
*** 2620: [[Hanover Court]] condominiums, formerly apartments (1953)
*** 2620: [[Hanover Court]] condominiums, formerly apartments (1953)
** south side:
** south side:
*** 2601: former location of [[Southern Medical Association]] (1964)
*** 2601: former location of [[Southern Medical Association]] (1959-1964)
*** 2617: former location of [[George Corker]] / [[John A. McDaniel]] (1953)
*** 2617: former location of [[George Corker]] / [[John A. McDaniel]] (1953), apartments (1959)
*** 2621: [[Ferd Caheen residence]]
*** 2621: [[Ferd Caheen residence]]
*** 2625: [[Kingsridge Condominiums]], former location of the [[Samuel Adler residence]]
*** 2625: [[Kingsridge Condominiums]], former location of the [[Samuel Adler residence]]
Line 207: Line 207:
** south side:
** south side:
*** 2717: [[Park Tower]] (formerly Park Tower Apartments, built 1969), former location of [[Johnnie Hulsey]] (1953)
*** 2717: [[Park Tower]] (formerly Park Tower Apartments, built 1969), former location of [[Johnnie Hulsey]] (1953)
*** 2725: former location of [[Sam Will John residence]] (1910), [[General Convalescent Home]] annex (1953)
*** 2725: former location of [[Sam Will John residence]] (1910), [[General Convalescent Home]] annex (1953),  [[Plaza Nursing Home]] (1959)
*** 2727: [[Highland Condos]], former site of [[George Cruikshank residence]]
*** 2727: [[Highland Condos]], former site of [[George Cruikshank residence]]


Line 213: Line 213:
** north side:
** north side:
*** 2732: former location of [[Knights of Columbus]] hall (1953-1964)
*** 2732: former location of [[Knights of Columbus]] hall (1953-1964)
*** 2738: former location of [[Birmingham Teachers Club]] (1959)
** south side:
** south side:
*** 2731-2737: "[[Three sisters]]"
*** 2731-2737: "[[Three sisters]]"
**** 2731: [[George Harris residence]], former location of [[Ernest L. Green]] (1953), [[Green Apartments]] (1964)
**** 2731: [[George Harris residence]], former location of [[Ernest L. Green]] (1953), [[Green Apartments]] (1959-1964)
**** 2733: [[Robert Warner residence]], former location of apartments (1953)
**** 2733: [[Robert Warner residence]], former location of apartments (1953)
**** 2737: [[Eugene Enslen residence]], [[Trimmier Law Firm]], former location of [[General Convalescent Home]] / [[Birmingham Conservatory of Music]] branch / [[Dorsey Whittington]] (1953)
**** 2737: [[Eugene Enslen residence]], [[Trimmier Law Firm]], former location of [[General Convalescent Home]] / [[Birmingham Conservatory of Music]] branch / [[Dorsey Whittington]] (1953), [[Home for the Aged]] (1959)


* [[28th Street South]] / [[28th Place South]] intersects
* [[28th Street South]] / [[28th Place South]] intersects
** north side:
** north side:
*** 2820: former location of [[Hill Food Stores]] (1959)
*** 2828: [[James Donnelly residence]] (built 1906)
*** 2828: [[James Donnelly residence]] (built 1906)
*** 2834: [[Mortimer Jordan residence]] (built 1906-1908), former location of [[Joy Carter]] / [[Frank George]] (1953)
*** 2834: [[Mortimer Jordan residence]] (built 1906-1908), former location of [[Joy Carter]] / [[Frank George]] (1953)
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** south side:
** south side:
*** 2801: former location of [[Tom Joy residence]], [[Winston Davis]] florist / [[Lou Davis]] dressmaker (1953), [[Davis Dress Shop]] (1964)
*** 2801: former location of [[Tom Joy residence]], [[Winston Davis]] florist / [[Lou Davis]] dressmaker (1953), [[Davis Dress Shop]] (1964)
*** 2803: [[Unity of Birmingham]]
*** 2803: [[Unity of Birmingham]] (1959-)
*** 2807: [[Rhodes Park Manor]] apartments (1953)
*** 2807: [[Rhodes Park Manor]] apartments (1953-)
*** 2809: former location of [[James McClung]] (1953)
*** 2809: former location of [[James McClung]] (1953)
*** 2811: former location of [[Miriam Bethea]] (1953)
*** 2811: former location of [[Miriam Bethea]] (1953). apartments (1959)
*** 2815-2823: [[Highland Terrace]] apartments (1953)
*** 2815-2823: [[Highland Terrace]] apartments (1953)
*** 2827-2831: [[Greenbrier at the Altamont]], formerly [[Altamont Apartments]] (1953), with [[Altamont Restaurant]] / [[George's Grill]]
*** 2827-2831: [[Greenbrier at the Altamont]], formerly [[Altamont Apartments]] (1953-1959), with [[Altamont Restaurant]] / [[George's Grill]]
**** 2827: [[Pilates on Highland]], former location of [[Gibbs-Doster Drug Co.]] (1964), [[Title Books]] wholesaler (1971), [[Strawberry Fields|Strawberry Fields Yogurt Garden]] (1983-1993), [[Celestial Realm]] coffee house (1990s), [[Lodestar Books]]
**** 2827: [[Pilates on Highland]], former location of [[Gibbs-Doster Drug Co.]] (1964), [[Title Books]] wholesaler (1971), [[Strawberry Fields|Strawberry Fields Yogurt Garden]] (1983-1993), [[Celestial Realm]] coffee house (1990s), [[Lodestar Books]]
**** 2829: former location of [[Hill Food Stores|Hill Grocery Co.]] (1953), [[Christian Science Reading Room]], [[Pantsari Architecture]], [[SouthTrust Bank]] branch office
**** 2829: former location of [[Hill Food Stores|Hill Grocery Co.]] (1953), [[Christian Science Reading Room]], [[Pantsari Architecture]], [[SouthTrust Bank]] branch office
**** 2831-2833: former location of [[Altamont Delicatessen]] (1953)
**** 2831-2833: former location of [[Altamont Delicatessen]] (1953)
***** 2831: former location of [[Altamont Harper Method Shop]] (1953) [[Altamont Beauty Salon]]
***** 2831: former location of [[Altamont Harper Method Shop]] (1953), [[Altamont Beauty Salon]] (1953-1959), [[Utopia Cleaners & Dyers]] (1959)
*** 2835: former location of [[Altamont Drug Store]] (1953), [[The Party Shoppe]] restaurant (1964)
*** 2835: former location of [[Altamont Drug Store]] (1953), [[The Party Shoppe]] restaurant (1964)


Line 243: Line 245:
*** 2900: apartment building, former site of [[William Rushton residence]], [[Houston Drennen]] (1953)
*** 2900: apartment building, former site of [[William Rushton residence]], [[Houston Drennen]] (1953)
*** 2904:  
*** 2904:  
*** 2906: [[Crews Apartments]], former location of [[Barbara Dickinson]] / [[Dan Wonderly]] (1953)
*** 2906: [[Crews Apartments]] (1959-), former location of [[Barbara Dickinson]] / [[Dan Wonderly]] (1953)
*** 2908: [[Women's Club House]] (built 1910)
*** 2908: [[Women's Club House]] (built 1910)
** south side:
** south side:
Line 262: Line 264:
**** 2919: former location of [[Horace Weaver]] architect (1953), [[Jeff Bagwell]] / [[Elbon Christian]] / [[William K. Blake]], architects (1964)
**** 2919: former location of [[Horace Weaver]] architect (1953), [[Jeff Bagwell]] / [[Elbon Christian]] / [[William K. Blake]], architects (1964)
**** 2921: former location of [[Sheraton Grocery & Delicatessen]] (1953), [[Sheraton Grocery]] (1964), [[Highland Market]]
**** 2921: former location of [[Sheraton Grocery & Delicatessen]] (1953), [[Sheraton Grocery]] (1964), [[Highland Market]]
*** 2927: [[Montcalm Apartments]], formerly [[Havenwood Apartments]] (1953)
*** 2927: [[Montcalm Apartments]], formerly [[Havenwood Apartments]] (1953-1959)
*** 2931: former location of [[Marguerite Sarris]] (1953)
*** 2931: former location of [[Marguerite Sarris]] milliner & dressmaker (1953-1959)


* [[30th Street South]] intersects (south only)
* [[30th Street South]] intersects (south only)
** 3005-3017: [[Avalon Condominiums]], formerly [[The Avalon]] apartments (1953)
** 3005-3017: [[Avalon Condominiums]], formerly [[The Avalon]] apartments (1953-1959)
** 3053: former location of [[James Knighton]] / [[George Saunders]] / [[Bruce Bailey]] / [[Charles Logan]] / [[Everette Croslaw]] (1953)
** 3053: former location of [[James Knighton]] / [[George Saunders]] / [[Bruce Bailey]] / [[Charles Logan]] / [[Everette Croslaw]] (1953)
** 3075: [[Independent Presbyterian Church]] parking lot, former location of [[Misses Howard School|Misses Howard School for Girls]] (1953-1970s)
** 3075: [[Independent Presbyterian Church]] parking lot, former location of [[Misses Howard School|Misses Howard School for Girls]] (1953-1970s)
** 3087: former location of [[Misses Howard School for Girls]] annex (1959)


* Intersection with [[31st Street South]] (joined briefly)
* Intersection with [[31st Street South]] (joined briefly)
Line 274: Line 277:
** 3100: [[Independent Presbyterian Church]] (built 1926)
** 3100: [[Independent Presbyterian Church]] (built 1926)
** 3116: [[Independent Presbyterian Church]]'s "[[Highland Hall]]" (2013-), former location of [[1st Church of Christ Scientist]] (1950-2011)
** 3116: [[Independent Presbyterian Church]]'s "[[Highland Hall]]" (2013-), former location of [[1st Church of Christ Scientist]] (1950-2011)
** 3121: former location of [[The Forest Court]] apartments
** 3121: former location of [[The Forest Court]] apartments (1959)


* Intersection with [[32nd Street South]]
* Intersection with [[32nd Street South]]

Revision as of 10:55, 7 September 2019

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

Highland Park neighborhood

1968 photograph of a boarding house at 2608 Highland Avenue

Forest Park neighborhood

References

External links