18 replies to this topic

[kayman]

Five Points paying price of success

Many residents and business owners in the Five Points Commercial Revitalization District have seen their property values go up at least 50% in the last year alone.  Many elderly residents have said that it is getting impossible for them to pay their morgages for their dwellings due to being on a fixed income.  The area has seen a drastic increase in the number of condos, clubs, and bars in the area mainly from the growth of the number of younger residents.

[dfwtiger]

Atlanta developers buy Pickwick Hotel

Finally...that place needs an upgrade...

http://www.al.com/bu.../....xml&coll=2

[Blazer85]

Sounds like a nice project and will be a nice shot in the arm to Five Points where there's been little investment in the last several years.

[convulso]

heck yeah! i've always wondered why the pickwick couldn't be more of a draw. after the overhaul, maybe it will actually be near full occupancy...for a change.

[Blazer85]

Looks like it will get a new name too.  

The Hotel Highland at Five Points South

Probably best... gives more of a sense of its location.  Having that "5 Points" as part of the name will probably attract a few more visitors knowing that its in the heart of Birmingham's nightlife.

[kayman]

It seems the renovation of the Hotel Highland at Five Points South is now complete.  The hotel now has a very 'Manhattan vibe' with the major renovation.

[kayman]

Major renovation plans for Five Point South

Five Points South Neighborhood Association and tenents have laid out major plans for the district.  The Grape will be reopened in November as the La Mesa Restaurant & Cantina and also the former space that was occupied by Soca Clothing is being purchased by Schaeffer Eye Center and relocation of the optical center.  This in turn will free up the current location where Schaeffer occupies to a new restaurant & bar.  Also the Pickwick Place retail and restaurant area is now under major renovations to revamp the place with new look and new tenants that will be named a later date.  

It seems that Five Points South is very serious about revamping and expanding their district to remain the top nightlife and cosmopolitan restaurants, clubs, and bars in the Birmingham area.  I think  the incoming competition from the The District @ the BJCC and the possibility of the creation of the Theater District will be a good thing for all.

[Turbo]

Leonard23, on Aug 25 2007, 12:11 PM, said:

Five Points South Neighborhood Association and tenents have laid out major plans for the district. The Grape will be reopened in November as the La Mesa Restaurant & Cantina and also the former space that was occupied by Soca Clothing is being purchased by Schaeffer Eye Center and relocation of the optical center. This in turn will free up the current location where Schaeffer occupies to a new restaurant & bar. Also the Pickwick Place retail and restaurant area is now under major renovations to revamp the place with new look and new tenants that will be named a later date.

It seems that Five Points South is very serious about revamping and expanding their district to remain the top nightlife and cosmopolitan restaurants, clubs, and bars in the Birmingham area. I think the incoming competition from the The District @ the BJCC and the possibility of the creation of the Theater District will be a good thing for all.

They really need to address security issues in Five Points. I grew up around Five Points, In the late 80's I was one of those punk kids that would hang around the fountain at all hours of the night. I know the area well and had never felt uncomfortable there until my most recent outings there. I think BPD has been trying to increase there patrols but it's still going to take more effort.

[bhamsly]

Turbo, on Aug 25 2007, 12:59 PM, said:

They really need to address security issues in Five Points. I grew up around Five Points, In the late 80's I was one of those punk kids that would hang around the fountain at all hours of the night. I know the area well and had never felt uncomfortable there until my most recent outings there. I think BPD has been trying to increase there patrols but it's still going to take more effort.

I agree with the prescence of more Birmingham PD, but I think a CAPS Southside would be great to just remain in that area.

I wonder what type of retail stores would locate to Pickwick Place. It has a cool look and feel, and it needs to be better. I know that I would shop there since I live right down the street. I talked to a representative of American Apparel(a very cool clothing store) for a potential store. Most of their stores are urban stores that are made to fit whatever neighborhood they are in. I told them that Five Points South, Lakeview, or just on 20th Street would be great choices for a potential store. I was told that they are expanding as fast as possible, and that she would be sending their scouts a message, and that they hope to see a Birmingham location in the near future.

[woob]

bhamsly, on Aug 25 2007, 12:22 PM, said:

I agree with the prescence of more Birmingham PD, but I think a CAPS Southside would be great to just remain in that area.

I wonder what type of retail stores would locate to Pickwick Place. It has a cool look and feel, and it needs to be better. I know that I would shop there since I live right down the street. I talked to a representative of American Apparel(a very cool clothing store) for a potential store. Most of their stores are urban stores that are made to fit whatever neighborhood they are in. I told them that Five Points South, Lakeview, or just on 20th Street would be great choices for a potential store. I was told that they are expanding as fast as possible, and that she would be sending their scouts a message, and that they hope to see a Birmingham location in the near future.

it has potential but yeah its scary there... i wont ever go back alone... i had a group of homeless guys ask me if I wanted to take pictures of a dying man!

[Alabadrock]

woob, on Aug 26 2007, 09:23 PM, said:

it has potential but yeah its scary there... i wont ever go back alone... i had a group of homeless guys ask me if I wanted to take pictures of a dying man!

Hmm, I thin it's best that we not tell everyone about those kinds of experiences.  Lol, but, it does sound quite interesting.  How did you reply?

[kayman]

Hungry Howie's Pizza is opening a location at the former Plaza Cleaners parcel on 11th Avenue South.  This would be the restaurant's 2nd location in the metro area (aside from the one in White Stone Center in Alabaster).  It is set to be open from 11 a.m. to midnight everday, but will look toward remaining open as late as 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays to accomodate the growing UAB student population.  This is another "test location" and with its success the chain plans on opening 15-20 location in the Greater Birmingham area.

[convulso]

ah yeah! howie's! good news. i miss the howie's in auburn and tucson. cheese bread is all the fat you need for a week! if it's on 11th, it should do good business. and i should get bigger clothes.

[bhamsly]

The Birmingham City Zoning board has approved for a new CVS to replace the old one at the intersection of 14th St South, and 11th Ave South. The apartments there are to be raised. There is no word on the what will become of the old CVS. That site, along with the former Italia Express restaurant site, are prime sites for future developments because of the proximity to UAB campus residents, and area residents.

Work on the Pickwick Place "mall" is really underway. I saw what seems to be an agressive push to make that place a happening place once again.

I heard that the city is trying to place a fountain in the middle of the actual FIVE Points intersection. That would be a really, but I wonder if it would cause chaos for motorists traveling through that intersection.

With these projects, as well as the new Residence Inn, I hope that Five Points South is well on it's way to being the place work, play, and live in Birmingham.

[kayman]

Interesting developments on the new CVS location considering the campany made recent exterior updates to the current location's facade to have to look so-what similar to the newer locations.  However, I hate to see another business such as Italia Express will be forced out to make room for the store.  On the fountain in the center of Five Points South would be a good asethetic addition to the area.  Now if we can get all the streets repaved so that my front-end alignment has to be redone ever 6 months.

[bhamsly]

kayman, on Oct 11 2008, 11:08 AM, said:

Interesting developments on the new CVS location considering the campany made recent exterior updates to the current location's facade to have to look so-what similar to the newer locations. However, I hate to see another business such as Italia Express will be forced out to make room for the store. On the fountain in the center of Five Points South would be a good asethetic addition to the area. Now if we can get all the streets repaved so that my front-end alignment has to be redone ever 6 months.

I don't think that the former Italia Express will be apart of the proposed CVS. I passed by the former restaurant the other day, and I saw a sign that read, "Baja Bistro Coming Soon."

[kayman]

bhamsly, on Nov 3 2008, 02:38 AM, said:

I don't think that the former Italia Express will be apart of the proposed CVS. I passed by the former restaurant the other day, and I saw a sign that read, "Baja Bistro Coming Soon."

Well, that's good news then.  It would have been ashame for the place to get razed.

[Dystopos]

The city is busily repaving all the street in the 5 Points South area in advance of the PapaJohns.com Bowl. According to 'The Terminal' the central intersection will be painted red with the logo of the 5 Points Merchants Association on it.

http://bhamterminal....ars-completion/

large photo of work in progress:
http://www.flickr.co...522205/sizes/o/

Edited by Dystopos, 17 November 2008 - 05:55 PM.

[kayman]

Dystopos, on Nov 17 2008, 05:54 PM, said:

The city is busily repaving all the street in the 5 Points South area in advance of the PapaJohns.com Bowl. According to 'The Terminal' the central intersection will be painted red with the logo of the 5 Points Merchants Association on it.

http://bhamterminal....ars-completion/

large photo of work in progress:
http://www.flickr.co...522205/sizes/o/

Interesting developments.  How far along is the city on its plan to repave all the major city streets?