Powell Steam Plant

This article is about the mixed-use redevelopment project. For the original utility plant, see Powell Avenue Steam Plant

The Powell Steam Plant is a redevelopment project under construction at the former Powell Avenue Steam Plant building, between Powell Avenue and the Railroad Reservation in downtown Birmingham's Parkside District.

In 2012 Alabama Power purchased the Birmingham Parking Authority Lot D on Block 113C just north of the plant as part of a potential redevelopment of the combined site. In July 2014 the company's president, Mark Crosswhite, announced that the utility intended to develop a mixed-use cultural and entertainment complex at that location. HOAR Construction was hired to perform pre-construction clean-up and stabilization of the plant. Subcontractor Hamon Custodis performed specialized conservation work on the landmark smokestacks.

The site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in January 2015. In September of that year, the utility won approval from the Birmingham Design Review Committee for its preliminary plans for a public urban plaza on the former parking lot. The plaza design was created by Nelson Byrd Woltz of Charlottesville, Virginia along with associated firms Birchfield, Penuel & Associates, Macknally Land Design and LBYD Engineers

After completing hazardous materials abatement and structural stabilization of the former steam plant, Alabama Power turned the development of the "Powell Steam Plant" project over to Orchestra Partners. In February 2022 the developers announced that Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, an Austin, Texas-based theater chain, would be the anchor tenant for the Steam Plant, leasing 50,000 of the 86,000 available square feet in the building.

In January 2024 Alabama Power spokesman Anthony Cook confirmed that a change had been made to the development team for the project, and that Alamo Drafthouse Cinema was no longer a tenant.

References

• Cooper, Lauren B. (January 21, 2011) "Historic steam plant eyed for redevelopment." Birmingham Business Journal
• Bryant, Joseph D. (July 9, 2014) "'New venue for new era': Alabama Power Railroad Park area steam plant to bring Birmingham a new kind of energy." The Birmingham News
• Bryant, Joseph D. (January 15, 2015) "Powell Avenue Steam Plant grabs national historic designation as redevelopment work continues." The Birmingham News
• Natta, André (September 9, 2015) "Steam Plant Plaza receives Design Review Committee approval" The Terminal
• Thornton, William (February 3, 2022) "Alamo Drafthouse Cinema coming to Birmingham’s Powell Steam Plant." The Birmingham News
• Wood, Cecilia (April 12, 2022) "Orchestra Partners shares plans for exciting Powell Steam Plant development" Bham Now
• Taylor, Drew (January 23, 2024) "Alamo Drafthouse Cinema no longer coming to downtown Birmingham." CBS42.com

External links

• Powell Steam Plant website
• Powell Avenue Steam Plant Plaza at Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects