Birmingham’s Design Review Committee approved several projects in July, but a team working on a residential project in Norwood learned that asking for permission afterwards doesn’t always work out.

At its first meeting of July, the DRC tabled an exterior residential renovation in Norwood, a corporate-owned rental project being prepared for sale. The reason: a stop work order issued due to construction being performed without a permit.

The work completed prior to the order included removing the historic cedar siding, changing the historic dormer, removing brick columns, infilling some windows and replacing the remaining ones with vinyl-clad versions – something not allowed under the neighborhood’s guidelines.

The committee expressed a variety of concerns about this project, especially since it is a contributing structure in the historic district. The choice in replacement siding is allowed, but the manufacturer does not make a product that replicates the historic lap of the original cedar panels. The removal of the dormer and columns also caused concern.

Ultimately, the committee tabled the item until the neighborhood association weighs in. The committee also told the owner’s representative that when the project returns, the owners would need to include archival photos and elevations as part of the presentation.

The owner’s representative asked for “forgiveness” for the project, but the committee noted that neighborhood residents are becoming more prone to complain about work being undertaken either without permission or by unlicensed contractors.

At that same meeting, however, the committee approved three signage projects across the city, and gave final approval on the new Muslim Student Center near UAB on Southside.

Signage and new developments

Properties in Downtown’s Northwest and Cultural District will see updated signage projects being installed over the next few weeks.

Hallmark Automotive, a car dealer focused on Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep and Ram vehicles, is installing new, internally lit channel letter signs representing the different brands sold at the dealership.

Phillips Academy downtown is the next school to have its existing reader board replaced by a digital version. The design and zoning guidelines are specific for digital reader boards in this district and the committee was assured they would be followed.

The new Muslim Student Center in Phelan Park on the Southside received final approval on the building design. The project had appeared before the committee two other times. In June, the committee held a work session for the center to discuss concerns with the applicant, including the balance of the brick-to-window ratio, the need for parapets to hide the rooftop mechanical, and some missing elevation details.

A representative of the project expressed her appreciation for DRC input, noting it has improved the project.

May and June meetings

The final May meeting featured two construction projects. The First Presbyterian Church recently received a grant to update the wall and gate encircling the children’s playground. The height of the wall will be raised to six feet and a new gate installed. The contractor intends to reuse the existing concrete wall cap. The landscaping will remain in place.

The Ensley demolition project returned to the committee from the previous meeting. The building’s owner, who had purchased the property from the State of Alabama after it was taken for back taxes, presented conceptual plans to demolish the remaining walls of the structures and reuse the existing foundations for parking and landscaping.

The owner will return with the final designs for the parking area.

In June, the committee only met once. Besides the Muslim Student Center, at that meeting, they discussed new signage for Joe Hudson’s Collision Center downtown, which was approved.

Committee decisions by neighborhood, July 9

Twice a month, the city of Birmingham’s Design Review Committee considers plans to alter structures that fall within one of the city’s many historic and commercial revitalization districts. This column recaps DRC meetings from May, June and July 2025.

Downtown – Cultural District

Signage – Phillips Academy, 2316 Seventh Avenue North – The committee approved as presented.

Downtown – Northwest

Signage – Hallmark Automotive, 1409 Fifth Avenue North – The committee approved as presented.

Forest Park

Residential – The committee approved as presented.

Norwood

Residential – The committee tabled the request.

Phelan Park

New Construction – Muslim Student Center, 1531 13th Ave. South – The committee approved with the condition the new drawings are submitted to staff and followed.

June 25 Committee decisions by neighborhood

Downtown – Northwest

Signage – Joe Hudson’s Collision Center, 517 14th Street North – Approved as presented.

Phelan Park

New Construction – Muslim Student Center – Tabled for a work session immediately following the meeting.

May 28 Committee Decisions by Neighborhood

Downtown – 21st Street North

Reconstruction – First Presbyterian Church, 2100 Fourth Avenue North – The committee approved as presented.

Ensley

Demolition and Conceptual Plans – vacant buildings, 109-115 19th Street North – The committee approved as presented.

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