Old Edwards Chevy showroom building will become downtown Birmingham business start-up incubator

The downtown Birmingham building that was once the dealership showroom for Edwards Chevrolet in the 1930s, and was last used as a Sticks ‘N’ Stuff furniture showroom more than seven years ago, will now incubate new businesses.

The Birmingham City Council on Tuesday approved a project funding agreement with Nextec, LLC, to redevelop and rehabilitate the approximately 65,000 square-foot Edwards Motor Company Building at 1531 Third Ave. North.

The area will be leased for use as a flexible workspace and collaboration area for start-up businesses moving from Innovation Depot, or other businesses interested in locating in Birmingham.

“We are committed to supporting community redevelopment and strengthening our small businesses,” Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin said. “This project does both.”

The city will provide $2 million in incentives in support of the project to be paid in five annual installments of $400,000 each, if certain leasing milestones are met. The first installment of the incentive funding will come out of the American Recovery Plan monies and is an allowable use to stimulate the economy.

“We identified the old Sticks ‘N’ Stuff building as a prime asset in the civil rights district,” said Cornell Wesley, director of Innovation and Economic Opportunity.

He said the project will provide offices for businesses that started at Innovation Depot and are ready to move on, but not yet own their offices.

“Where do they land?” Wesley said. “We want them to land here.”

The projected economic impact from sales, property, use, and occupational tax will be around $300,000. It is expected that 311 jobs over the next seven years will be generated.

Tquila Automation, intelligent automation specialists based in Austin, Texas, has shown interest in moving there, Wesley said. The city has been working to recruit them to Birmingham.

“This doubles down our efforts to recruit, retain and continue to develop our tech sector,” Wesley said. “This is a local play and regional play that shows Birmingham has something to offer.”

Improvements to the building have already been made, including a small outdoor amphitheater next to the building.

Renovations at a building that once served as the Edwards Chevrolet showroom in downtown Birmingham in the 1930s has been renovated for use as a business incubator. The renovations so far include a small amphitheater on the west side of the building, which is at 1531 Third Ave. North. (Photo by Greg Garrison/AL.com)