Direct from the big easy
At Design Review Committee this morning, it was revealed that the long-delayed mixed-use project at the block along 7th avenue south between 28th and 29th streets, in the heart of the Lakeview District, is finally proceeding (construction financing is 100% in place and closes in 2 weeks, with work commencing 30 days afterwards). Reduced in size from earlier versions, the current plan is a 4-story building with apartments above, and retail below. A lead tenant has been signed, Huey’s 24/7 Diner, a chain based out of New Orleans that stays open all night, year-round.
That, of course, is great news and perhaps one sign that financing for development projects is finally becoming more available after a drought of several years.
Urbanizing Lakeview
[UPDATE: rendering of the project above, and link to Birmingham News article]
On a sadder note, the small but quaint building at the corner of 28th and 7th designated earlier as the site of a donut shop to complement this project, is now slated for demolition for additional surface parking. The committee objected to this aspect, and sent the designers (Live Design Group) back to revise their plan for this corner. If this neighborhood had a Smart Code in place, which stated up front that corner buildings must remain (or be replaced with other corner buildings, not surface parking), this same issue would not keep repeating itself, again and again.
Late-night burgers, here we come.
[thanks to iisonly for the Huey’s New Orleans pic and Live Design Group for the rendering]
Bhamarchitect's Blog 