Tag Archives: Design Review Committee

A future for “The Sign” begins to take shape

Posted on March 9, 2016 | 4 comments

03092016 2NorthTwentiethThis morning, the Birmingham Design Review Committee got its first look at a proposed replacement for what’s come to be known around the city as “The Pepsi Sign.” Representatives from 84 Outdoor and Cayenne Creative presented a working design to committee members at the end of the meeting.

City officials reached out to 84 Outdoor by letter (of the cease and desist variety) after learning about the plans to replace the existing vinyl signs covering the electric scrolling installation atop Two North Twentieth via a story published on March 2 by AL.com. They met with them on Tuesday and subsequently added them to this morning’s agenda to give the committee a chance to offer input on its design.

It has been just over two years since the advertisement was first installed. (We have a recap of previous reports about appearances by “The Sign” on the Design Review agenda available on Dear Birmingham.) A follow-up report by AL.com’s Kelly Poe said UAB will be paying $300,000 for a one-year lease of the two-sided sign.

James Stanley, an attorney with the City of Birmingham, informed committee members the sign is considered a non-conforming billboard for zoning purposes. Based on this designation, the new owner does not have to seek approval of any replacement of the advertising on the sign so long as the sign is not expanded in size and there was no need to replace its structure. 84 Outdoor can choose (as it did) to bring those proposed designs to the committee to seek input and opinion as they are considered, but they do not need their approval for installation.

The design as presented this morning has several downtown destinations represented in simulated black and white photos, including the Alabama Theatre; the City Federal building; the Empire Building; Harbert Plaza; Railroad Park; Sloss Furnaces; Vulcan; and the soon to be lit Magic City sign along the Rotary Trail on Southside. A green UAB logo would sit in the middle of it. The design would be closer to what had been suggested by the committee while working with Harbert Realty on what they originally asked to be considered temporary signage more than two years ago.

The committee asked the applicants to come back for the next regularly scheduled meeting on March 23 to give them an opportunity to review the proposed design.

Unfortunately, the BhamPepsiSign Twitter account doesn’t exist anymore, so the sign could not be reached for comment.

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Steam Plant Plaza receives Design Review Committee approval

Posted on September 9, 2015 | 2 comments

Design review Sept. image 2Alabama Power received schematic design approval of its plans for the park and plaza surrounding its Powell Avenue Steam Plant from Birmingham’s Design Review Committee on Wednesday morning, allowing for permits to be secured and work to begin. Nelson Byrd Woltz, a firm with offices in Charlottesville, Virginia and New York City, presented the proposed plans for the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham’s former Prize 2 the Future site (a.k.a., Lot D) to the committee, meeting the first time since the cycling accident that claimed the life of committee member and local contractor William Robertson on August 29.

A report on the company’s Alabama Newscenter website (as well as a post to the project’s website) states construction is expected to begin this fall, taking approximately one year to complete. The approval includes streetscape, furniture, and landscaping for the city block located between 18th and 19th Streets along 1st Avenue South.

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The plaza’s the main entrance, located on the block’s southwest corner, will mimic the Red Mountain Expressway‘s “cut” using limestone and iron ore and matching the berm height of its existing neighbor to the west. Those materials will be used with sandstone to create a seeping fountain. The resulting main plaza could be used as an amphitheater. A scrim fountain will double as a reflecting pool, lining up with the taller of the steam plant’s two smokestacks and serving as the centerpiece of an allée. A water feature will run through a perennial plant garden along the site’s southeastern edge.

The portion of Powell Street passing directly in front of the building, vacated by the city of Birmingham earlier this year, will have bollards installed at its western end. It will still be accessible from 19th Street, providing access to a “food truck grove” and some off-street parking. The plans also call for a small covered pavilion and restrooms. Several sections throughout the site are designated for allowing outdoor dining. A “stack garden” will run along the northern edge of the structure, providing visitors access to a unique, elevated view of the railroad tracks and the surrounding area during business hours.

While a rendering showing an overview of the project site shows a landscaped parking lot along the northern edge of Railroad Park, a representative from the utility stated it was included as conceptual. The site does sit immediately south of the intermodal transit facility currently under construction along Morris Avenue. The plan presented today does call for a reduction of parking along 1st Avenue South – partially to accommodate the allée – though the remaining spaces will remain angled.

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Proposal for chain link fence around parking lot on 18th Street tabled at Design Review Committee meeting

Posted on September 2, 2014 | 2 comments

ALcom parking lotThere was one additional item added to last week’s Design Review Committee meeting agenda (you can click here to view the preview post). Despite this, the committee still only heard three items as representatives for the first one did not appear. The path forward involving the item — a parking lot — will go a long way toward defining how a major entry point into the city’s central business district looking in the short term.

The property in question is owned by Robert Crook and currently leased by Alabama Media Group (AMG)/AL.com. It sits on the southeast corner of 18th Street and 1st Avenue North — sitting catty-corner from the soon-to-be demolished BJCTA Central Station and a short walk from both Alabama Power’s Powell Avenue steam plant and Railroad Park.

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The proposal presented called for a six-foot tall black chain link fence to be erected around the property, delineating the difference between the parking spaces contained within and a vacant lot directly to its east. Representatives for AMG told the committee the fence was needed to help deter people from cutting through the parking lot on their way to Railroad Park and the bus station. The current lack of a barrier along the 1st Avenue North and Morris Avenue edges of the lot had led to some vehicles being damaged. The fence would sit four feet inside of the property line and behind a Buford holly hedge already in existence along 18th Street and proposed to be extended along 1st Avenue North and Morris Avenue. The existing traffic pattern on the property would remain, with one way in off of 1st Avenue North and two exit gates along Morris Avenue.

Committee members had concerns about the height of the fence and the precedent it may set moving forward. They requested Crook and AMG consider whether a shorter fence, particularly one four-feet in height, would be more appropriate. They pointed out that 3′ of that fence would be blocked from view by the Buford holly hedges. They also asked if the applicant would consider the placement of trees along the property edge. The item was tabled pending conversations between the applicant, the tenant, and the architectural firm working on the project.

In other business, the committee approved the installation of a mural on the exterior wall of East 59; and they approved proposed changes to the exterior of the building that houses Unity of Birmingham in Highland Park.

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Design Review Preview | August 27 ,2014

Posted on August 26, 2014 | Leave a comment

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Design Review: Uptown, Five Points South & signs

Posted on June 27, 2013 | Leave a comment

After last week’s excitement, Birmingham’s Design Review Committee meeting was rather sedate with mostly signage and a residential update.

Forest Park Residential

The single residential project on this week’s agenda was a material change. In May, the committee approved an exterior renovation in the historic Forest Park neighborhood that would have clad a house in hardie board. The architect returned to the committee to amend the plans and change the cladding to stucco, which remains in character of the neighborhood and the house. The committee approved with almost no discussion.

Uptown / Cultural District

Steve Looney of Commander Board Signs Inc. presented signage for Octane Coffee‘s new location. Those already familiar with their Homewood space will recognize this new tenant when they open later this year in the Uptown development’s Westin hotel. Reverse-lit channel letters will be installed on two sides their corner storefront. The committee approved.

06272013tdbbeforeconstructionAnother business preparing to open in Uptown is Texas de Brazil. The Dallas-based Brazillian steakhouse chain will open their Birmingham location across from Todd English P.U.B. on Richard Arrington, Jr. Blvd. N. The signage and elevation requests submitted by A.G. Gaston Design‘s Fred Keith included two outdoor dining areas, a panel canopy system, a red back-lit logo sign, and the bamboo planted in ceramic pots consistent with the chain’s design. The canopy, made of aluminum slats, perforated metal, and wood beams (for structural support) will wrap three sides of the building. The main entrance to the restaurant will be on Richard Arrington. After discussion on materials, the project was approved by the committee.

Five Points South

Two signage requests were presented by Wes Daniels of Daniel Signs. First, Sekisui Pacific Rim’s Five Points location requested the installation of signage mounted on a raceway track. The letters would be LED lit. The committee expressed concerns on the sign’s placement in relation to the chevron details on the terracotta building facing. They also requested the building’s owner be contacted to implement a signage master plan. The committee approved with one member dissenting.

Next, Daniels discussed new signage for Orbit Salon on 11th Ave. S. The original presentation included an aluminum framed sign with chrome letters and vinyl letters applied to the entrance for wayfinding. After a short discussion, it was recommended that the sign be reduced to simply the letters without a background. Then the committee members discussed how the sign would be mounted. Ultimately, both parties agreed to mount the letters with adhesive to reduce the potential damage to the stone façade on the building. A committee member brought up the inconsistencies with the building’s current tenant signage, which includes both building signs and canopies. The committee’s motion approved the vinyl door sign and the removal of the current illegal signage while asking for the owner to return with a signage master plan.

New committee appointments

Finally, prior to adjourning, the committee voted on recommendations for filling at least one vacant at-large committee seat. Three resumes had been circulated to members. Two – those of Craig Hennecy of Hennecy Architecture and Shelia Montgomery-Mills of Civil Construction Solutions – will now be passed along to the Birmingham City Council for consideration.

Twice a month, the city’s Design Review Committee convenes at the Auburn University Urban Studio to discuss and approve – hopefully – plans to make alterations to the city’s structures that fall within one of the many historic and commercial revitalization districts.

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Proposed Five Points Chick-Fil-A now has no drive-thru

Posted on August 3, 2010 | 2 comments

CIMG0005UPDATE: Joseph Baker, president of I Believe in Birmingham, has posted a statement on the organization’s Facebook page this evening.

Applause erupted this afternoon during a subcommittee meeting of Birmingham’s Design Review Committee as representatives from Chick-Fil-A informed committee members and others gathered that the proposed Five Points South location would not include a drive-through.

The fast-food chain plans to present a conceptual proposal to the full committee during next Wednesday morning’s regularly scheduled meeting. That proposal will incorporate points and suggestions made by the subcommittee today.

Chick-Fil-A also announced that they planned to use and modify the existing building on the site – a former Ruby Tuesday’s location – as well as incorporate a playground and outdoor seating. Reusing the existing structure would also allow them to move forward with the project quickly.

The number of parking spaces would be reduced from 90 to 74. There was also a question about if there would be a change in operating hours as a result of the prominent location; they said that none was planned.

Photo: Chick-Fil-A presents to Design Review Committee subcommittee. acnatta/Flickr

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What’s the plan for the former Engine No. 22?

Posted on April 29, 2010 | 3 comments

Surveying Engine Number 22; Birmingham, ALWorkers were surveying the former location for Birmingham Fire Department Engine No. 22 early this morning, just one day after the city’s Design Review Committee held over for review a conceptual design that would allow a Walgreens pharmacy to replace the structure – along with the car repair business immediately next door and apparently long time fixture breakfast venue Bogue’s Restaurant.

According to a Birmingham Business Journal article from earlier this month, there have been several inquiries made about redevelopment of the busy intersection where the Lakeview, Highland Park and Forest Park neighborhoods meet.

Jeremy Erdreich’s blog, Bhamarchitect, has received a great deal of traffic, and comments, as a result of his post about yesterday morning’s meeting.

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