Eight buildings are being restored on a downtown block developers believe could tie together two flourishing sections of Southside. The 2200 block of First Avenue South is seen as a key to connecting the ever-expanding University of Alabama at Birmingham school and medical complex with the Lakeview district and Pepper Place. Altogether more than $5 million is being spent on the projects on the block. "These are some terrific buildings with great potential and high visibility right off the 22nd Street viaduct," said John Lauriello, principal with Southpace Properties, which has developed leased or sold many of the buildings on the block now under redevelopment. Williams-Blackstock Architects purchasedpart of the 36,000 square-foot building at 2204 First Ave. South last week from owner Steve Mote. That two-story building, with a basement, will be renovated into offices and retail space. It will include a new head-quarters for the architecture firm on the top floor.

Moving from Liberty Park

"We have played a role in downtown redevelopment and plan to continue to do that now that our offices will be there," said Joel Blackstock, partner at Williams-Blackstock. The firm is moving from Liberty Park. The Nathan & Nathan law firm has taken the two story, 9,500-square-foot building across the street at 2215 First Ave. South. The attached one-story 5,000-square-foot building will be converted into office or retail space. "We need more space and this is a perfect place for our firm to grow," said John Nathan, partner in the firm with his wife. Bo Grisham of Southpace is handling the leasing for the remaining space in the buildings. Next door to the law firm, Corporate Realty Associates and Golden & Associates Construction have renovated the former Magic City Casket Co. building at 2229 First Ave. South into their new headquarters. They also are renovating the neighboring Blanche House building at 2227 First Ave. South for a high-end atique shop. They also own Magic City Casket Annex at 104 23rd St. South and plan to renovate it for office or retail. A number of potential tenants have already expressed interest in the space.

Rundown rail spur

The partners are investing more than $2 million in the buildings. "These buildings have so much character and history," said Robert Simon of Corporate Realty. Across First Avenue South, Lauriello is finalizing the sale of the building at 2226 where he hopes to place a furniture store. One of the biggest transformations will be along the street itself. The City of Birmingham has committed $375,000 to improve lighting, sidewalks and landscaping; it might even fill in the abandoned rail spur, now an eyesore full of weeds and litter. The block was part of Birmingham's red light district in the late 1800's and early 1900's. New plans call for the block to be part of a proposed linear park with trails, green space, benches and the like that would stretch from near Interstate 65 to Sloss Furnace, running parallel to the railroad tracks along First Avenue South. Michael Calvert, president of Operation New Birmingham, said the activity is encouraging because it shows private developers are interested in smaller buildings south of the railroad tracks that split the north and south sides of downtown. "I expect this to lead to redevelopment of surrounding blocks," Calvert said.