Twice a month, the city of Birmingham’s Design Review Committee convenes to discuss plans to make alterations to structures that fall within one of the city’s many historic and commercial revitalization districts. This column summarizes recent DRC activity with projects grouped by type and location. This edition of Design Review recaps the DRC meeting from November 15, 2023.

Decisions of the DRC, as noted in the application process, are final. Applicants are responsible to carry out the plans as presented and approved. Any deviations from the approved plans cannot be undertaken without a return to the committee for approval.

Downtown Northwest

External Renovation – 1620 Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Boulevard – Last seen and approved at the December 2022 meeting, the owners of this small apartment building returned to provide a list of changes to the project. Since they are diverting from some of the items previously approved, the following updates were presented: changing the white window frames to black and maintaining the existing metal staircases instead of constructing new wooden railings. The metalwork was determined to be in better shape than previously thought and will be refreshed with a new coat of paint.

The committee approved as presented.

Downtown Northwest / Civil Rights District