Highland Avenue: Difference between revisions

From Bhamwiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Line 54: Line 54:
***** 2007: former location of [[Marinello Shoppe]] beauty parlor (1929), [[Carmel Inc.]] women's clothing (1959), [[Medical Arts Brace Shop]] (1964), [[Hair]]
***** 2007: former location of [[Marinello Shoppe]] beauty parlor (1929), [[Carmel Inc.]] women's clothing (1959), [[Medical Arts Brace Shop]] (1964), [[Hair]]
***** 2009: former location of [[Lehman & Klein Flowers]] (1959), [[Klein's Flowers]] (1964-1980s). [[Flamingo's]]
***** 2009: former location of [[Lehman & Klein Flowers]] (1959), [[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-)
**** 2011: former location of [[Mussey & Latady]] antiques (1938), [[Electrik Maid Bake Shop]] (1946-1964), [[Dugan's]] pub (1973-2005), [[Little New Orleans]], [[Twist & Shout]], [[Black Market Bar]] (2012-2015), [[Buck Mulligan's]] (2015-2017)
*** 2013: former location of [[Highland Avenue Creamery]] bakery (1929)
*** 2013: former location of [[Highland Avenue Creamery]] bakery (1929)
*** [[2015 Highland Avenue|2015]]: [[2015 Highland Avenue|office building]] (built 1956), former location of [[Service Bureau Corp.]] (1964), [[Southern Institute]] (1970s-1990s), [[Assagio!]] restaurant, [[Tantra]], [[Courtyard Oyster Bar & Grill]], [[Club Red]] (2005), [[NV Ultra Lounge]] (-2014)
*** [[2015 Highland Avenue|2015]]: [[2015 Highland Avenue|office building]] (built 1956), former location of [[Service Bureau Corp.]] (1964), [[Southern Institute]] (1970s-1990s), [[Assagio!]] restaurant, [[Tantra]], [[Courtyard Oyster Bar & Grill]], [[Club Red]] (2005), [[NV Ultra Lounge]] (-2014)
Line 69: Line 69:
*** 2124: [[Berkley on Highland]] (built 1927 as the [[Kenilworth Arms]]), later the [[Berkeley Apartment Hotel]] (1953-1964)
*** 2124: [[Berkley on Highland]] (built 1927 as the [[Kenilworth Arms]]), later the [[Berkeley Apartment Hotel]] (1953-1964)
** south side:
** south side:
*** 2101: [[2101 Highland Avenue]] (formerly the [[A. G. Edwards Building]], built mid-late 1960s), former site of the [[Fairmont Apartments]] (1953-1959)
*** 2101: [[2101 Highland Avenue]] (formerly the [[A. G. Edwards Building]], built mid-late 1960s), former site of the [[Fairmont Apartments]] (1929-1959)
*** 2105: former location of [[Frank Grafford residence]] (1913)
*** 2105: former location of [[Frank Grafford residence]] (1913)
*** 2111: former location of [[J. Hayes Williams]] physician (1953), vacant (1959)
*** 2111: former location of [[J. Hayes Williams]] physician (1953), vacant (1959)
Line 80: Line 80:
**** 2142: former location of [[The Byrd Companies]] (1986)
**** 2142: former location of [[The Byrd Companies]] (1986)
*** 2144-2146: [[Dobbins Building]]
*** 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.]] (1959-1964), [[Longview Lime Co.]] (1964)
**** 2144: former location of [[Margaret Allen School]] (1906–1934), [[Lola Luther School for Girls]] / [[Academy of Music]], Mrs [[Burr Nabors]] music studio (1929), [[Louise Cone]] artist (1938-1953), [[Lemuel McDaniel]] artist (1953), [[Colonial Apartments]] (1953), [[National Cement Co.]] (1959-1964), [[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)  
**** 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]]
*** 2150: former location of [[Lovett's Flowers]] (1953-1964), [[Huggins Flowers]]
Line 86: Line 86:
*** 2154: [[Caldwell Bradshaw residence]] (built 1892), [[Davis & Norris LLP]] & [[Bates & Bone LLP]], former location of [[W. Nicholson Jones]] physician (1953-1959), [[Stanbur Co.]] management consultants / [[House of Physical Fitness]] health studio (1964), [[Stewart Perry Company]] (1985)-, [[Bradshaw House Gallery]] (1990s), [[O2 Ideas]] (2004-2007)
*** 2154: [[Caldwell Bradshaw residence]] (built 1892), [[Davis & Norris LLP]] & [[Bates & Bone LLP]], former location of [[W. Nicholson Jones]] physician (1953-1959), [[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]] physician (1959)
*** 2156: former location of [[Joseph Dixon]] physician (1959)
*** 2160: [[Donald Watkins Jr]] State Farm Insurance (2014-), former location of [[Earle Drennen]] / [[Sigmond Kahn]] / [[Jerome Chapman]] physicians / [[Mary Lytle]] dentist (1953), [[ [[Sigmond Kahn]] ]] / [[Benjamin Goldstein]] / [[Mary Lytle]], [[Don E. King]] (1959), [[O2 Ideas]] (-2007), [[Complete Health]], [[Summit Products]] (-2014)
*** 2160: [[Donald Watkins Jr]] State Farm Insurance (2014-), former location of [[Earle Drennen]] / [[Sigmond Kahn]] / [[Jerome Chapman]] physicians / [[Mary Lytle]] dentist (1953), [[Sigmond Kahn]] ]] / [[Benjamin Goldstein]] / [[Mary Lytle]], [[Don E. King]] (1959), [[O2 Ideas]] (-2007), [[Complete Health]], [[Summit Products]] (-2014)
*** 2164: former location of [[Retta Wertheimer]] (1953-1959)
*** 2164: former location of [[Retta Wertheimer]] (1953-1959)
*** 2168: former location of [[Agnes Anderson]] (1953)
*** 2168: former location of [[Agnes Anderson]] (1953)
Line 92: Line 92:
*** 2172: parking lot, former location of [[Laney Chiropractic Clinic]] (1953-1959, demolished 1990s)
*** 2172: parking lot, former location of [[Laney Chiropractic Clinic]] (1953-1959, demolished 1990s)
*** 2176: former location of [[Randall Lawrence]]
*** 2176: former location of [[Randall Lawrence]]
*** 2178: former location of [[Meer's Kosher Food Mart]] (1953), [[Bernie's Kosher Foods]] (1959)
*** 2178: former location of [[Schuessler Pharmacy]] (1929), [[Meer's Kosher Food Mart]] (1953), [[Bernie's Kosher Foods]] (1959)
*** 2180: former location of [[Joe Winters]] photographer (1953-1959)
*** 2180: former location of [[Sunshine Cleaners]] / [[Pan-Am Petroleum Co.]] (1929), [[Joe Winters]] photographer (1953-1959)
*** 2184: former location of [[Evelyn Swann]] delicatessen (1929)
*** 2188: [[Tom & Jerry's Chevron]] (1981-), former location of [[Standard on the Highlands]] service station
*** 2188: [[Tom & Jerry's Chevron]] (1981-), former location of [[Standard on the Highlands]] service station
** south side:
** south side:
*** 2123-2131: former location of [[Margaret Apartments]] (1953-1959)
*** 2123-2131: former location of [[Margaret Apartments]] (1953-1959)
*** 2135–2137: former location of [[Margaret Apartments]] (1929)
*** 2145-2151: [[One Highland Place]] (formerly the [[Gulf Building]], built 1961)
*** 2145-2151: [[One Highland Place]] (formerly the [[Gulf Building]], built 1961)
**** 2145: [[Rheumatology Associates]], former location of [[Germain WIlkinson]] (1953), [[IBM]] (1959-1964), [[Harbert Construction]] (1964)
**** 2145: [[Rheumatology Associates]], former location of [[Germain WIlkinson]] (1953), [[IBM]] (1959-1964), [[Harbert Construction]] (1964)
Line 102: Line 104:
**** 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]]
**** 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)
*** 2155: former location of [[George Hunter]] (1953)
*** 2163: former location of [[Monte Apartments]] (1953-1959)
*** 2163: former location of [[Monte Apartments]] (1929-1959)
*** 2167: former location of [[Vera Stewart]] / [[Roddie Stewart]] physicians (1953-1959), [[Tom Caldwell]] physician (1959)
*** 2167: former location of [[Herman Saks residence]] (1929), [[Vera Stewart]] / [[Roddie Stewart]] physicians (1953-1959), [[Tom Caldwell]] physician (1959)
*** 2173: Proposed [[Vesta Apartments]]. former location of [[Leo Steiner residence]], [[Vulcan Life & Accident Insurance]] (1949-1953), [[Britling Cafeteria|Britling on the Highlands]] cafeteria (1959-1964), and [[Highland Diagnostics]]
*** 2173: Proposed [[Vesta Apartments]]. former location of [[Leo Steiner residence]], [[Vulcan Life & Accident Insurance]] (1949-1953), [[Britling Cafeteria|Britling on the Highlands]] cafeteria (1959-1964), and [[Highland Diagnostics]]
*** 2177: former location of [[Jackson Apartments]] (1953)
*** 2177: former location of [[Jackson Apartments]] (1953)

Revision as of 10:10, 22 August 2020

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