Birmingham Development News

[TimCity2000]

Crazy how much the Parkside area has changed in 5 years. First pic is a Bing aerial from what must be 2009 or early 2010. Second is a current Google Maps image.

LIV Parkside, The Venue and Phase 1 of 20 Midtown have all started in the 2nd pic.

[jslaughter]

I think the Hilton dual brand hotel HAS to be technically over ten stories tall. The area that the proposed hotel will be has no parking. I think the hotel will sit on atleast four parking levels. And then will have maybe another 7 or 8 stories. It would definitely stick out. Hopefully this high rise will spur more highrises around the park side district.

[TimCity2000]

in other good news.. rotary trail has FINALLY begun actual construction (apparently the previous clearing / grading phase was a separate contract).

[Tourian]

Originally Posted by Bamablazer

I Googled the dual brand Hilton hotel and I saw a couple that I liked and think would look great on the Southside. They both were 10+ floors and they both were Hilton Garden/Homewood Suites.

I'm going to guess, before we possibly find out tomorrow, since there's already a Doubletree downtown and that they are putting a Homewood Suites up in 5pts, that this dual brand will be a full blown Hilton and then a Hilton Garden.

[brad0022]

This will be the Hilton Garden Inn and Home2 Suites at Second Avenue South and 17th Street.

http://www.al.com/business/index.ssf/2015/05/first_look_hilton_garden_inn_a.html#incart_river

[Tourian]

That 5-6 story soft cap for fire/insurance liability is something else I guess...
Glad to see more development regardless though, still plenty of room and opportunity to go.

[TimCity2000]

what a freakin' joke.

soooo disappointed

[brad0022]

Originally Posted by TimCity2000

what a freakin' joke.

soooo disappointed

Exactly. Looks suburban.

[TimCity2000]

speaking of height... anyone know what's happening with the highland tower?

seems like they made quick work of demolition and then the site just sat there. any movement? been a few weeks since I drove by...

[SpawnOfVulcan]

Originally Posted by brad0022

Exactly. Looks suburban.

Yea, I agree. It really pisses me off that it'll have an effing parking lot. What a waste time of space.... Don't get me wron, I'm happy to have the investment, but this plan lacks any noticeable amount of imagination.

[Bamablazer]

Originally Posted by tascalisa

Yea, I agree. It really pisses me off that it'll have an effing parking lot. What a waste time of space.... Don't get me wron, I'm happy to have the investment, but this plan lacks any noticeable amount of imagination.

I went to bed dreaming about all those nice renderings of other dual brand Hiltons. So disappointing.
Hopefully the Design Review Committee stepped up and asked for a more Urban type design when the developer comes back for final approval.

[Tourian]

Originally Posted by Bamablazer

I went to bed dreaming about all those nice renderings of other dual brand Hiltons. So disappointing.
Hopefully the Design Review Committee stepped up and asked for a more Urban type design when the developer comes back for final approval.

You and me both.

I read a followup story in the BBJ where they said the building would have some unique lighting element to make it glow/stand out at night. Doesn't seem like it could with the bland rendering, but we shall see.

[Bamablazer]

Originally Posted by Tourian

You and me both.

I read a followup story in the BBJ where they said the building would have some unique lighting element to make it glow/stand out at night. Doesn't seem like it could with the bland rendering, but we shall see.

On the map that pictured an aerial view of the Park Side district with colored areas targeted for development, there was another area, I think it was colored purple, located between the LIV Parkside development and the B and A warehouse, labeled as proposed hotel development. In the back of that area is the Stockyard, so perhaps if it is built it will be more of an Urban style with no parking lot.

[TimCity2000]

^yeah i've wondered about that site as well. i hope that does happen too. even if it's not a tower, i'd love to see more of the urban edge that LIV Parkside has created continue down to the stadium.

*edit*

this pic from LIV Parkside's FB page show what I mean...

[jslaughter]

Tim, I drive past lot where the Highland Tower is going to be built almost everyday. Nothing has happened since demolition. I hope the project hasn't run into any problems.

[B'ham Bound]

Originally Posted by jslaughter

Tim, I drive past lot where the Highland Tower is going to be built almost everyday. Nothing has happened since demolition. I hope the project hasn't run into any problems.

Still under construction as of now.

[Bamablazer]

Originally Posted by jslaughter

Tim, I drive past lot where the Highland Tower is going to be built almost everyday. Nothing has happened since demolition. I hope the project hasn't run into any problems.

This was the last article I read regarding the Highland Tower.
From the Birmingham Business Journal
:http://www.bizjournals.com/birmingham/ne...on-begins-to-clear-way-for-highland.html



Demolition begins to clear way for Highland apartment development
Jan 20, 2015, 10:12am CST UPDATED: Jan 20, 2015, 10:18am CST

Highland Apartment Site
The site of the future 15-story apartment high rise on Highland Ave.


Bryan Davis
Reporter- Birmingham Business Journal
Email | Twitter
Demolition work has commenced at the site of a proposed 15-story apartment development on Highland Ave.
Developer Harbert Realty Services Senior Vice President Dean Nix said the one-story building that sat on the site of the future 315-unit project has been demolished.
Nix said by the end of the week, the site should be completely clear, but construction will not start immediately.
"We've still got to go through some architectural planning," Nix said, adding the site will likely stay idle for at least a few weeks.
Plans for the development were announced in late 2013.
The project first received Design Review Committee approval in January 2014, with Atlanta's Cortland Partners coming on board to operate the apartments.
There will be a high rise with 227 units in the front of the development and 88 units in the back, with one-to-two-bedroom options ranging from 540 to 835 square feet for the one-bedroom units and 900 to 1,150 square feet for the two-bedroom option.
The $53 million development will also include 5,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space.
Nix has said in previous reports the development will be targeting young professionals, due to its proximity to UAB and downtown. It is also within walking distance of popular restaurants like Hot & Hot Fish Club, Bottega and Highland Bar & Grill.

[Bamablazer]

I noticed some construction activity going on at the empty restaurant area at the Marriott Spring Hill Suites on 20th Street and 4th Avenue S.

[TimCity2000]

^that's a good sign. seems like the retail space at the bottom of station 121 has gotten a little fuller too.

I'm sure rotary trail and all the parkside activity are helping fuel this.

[SpawnOfVulcan]

Yea, I've been worried about the retail space within these mixed use projects. 121 has seemed so dead at the street level. I'm glad spaces are starting to fill up, means more demand!!!