2300 1st Avenue North

From Bhamwiki
(Redirected from Fix Play Lofts)
Jump to navigation Jump to search

2300 1st Avenue North is a 3-story brick commercial building constructed in the 1910s on the southwest corner of Block 103, northeast of the intersection of 1st Avenue North and 23rd Street North. The 50-foot by 140-foot building was originally addressed as 2300–2302, but is presently 2300–2304.

The brown brick building features a large metal cornice which continues across the south and west street façades, and halfway across the north-facing alley façade. The ground floor storefronts are framed with metal trim decorated with a diamond motif. The upper windows are constructed with flat arches and dressed with limestone sills. Limestone is used as continuous bands at the 3rd floor line, 3rd floor window sill line, and above the 3rd floor window arches.

The ground floor was the long-time showroom for Fix-Play Displays.

The building is listed as a contributing structure to the Morris Avenue-1st Avenue North Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places, recognized in 1986.

Around the time Fix-Play closed in 2000 the building was acquired by Adam Cohen, Stacey Dulin and Woody Cohen's through an affiliate of their business, Harwood Properties (later renamed Cityscape Group). They redeveloped the building with 23 loft residences with the name Fix Play Lofts. The ONB Foundation also invested in the project, which was cited in a "Preservation Award" given to Harwood by the Birmingham Historical Society that year.

The residences are currently leased as apartments and managed by SPM Property Management. The property was owned by Sloss Real Estate in 2013. In 2016 it was joined with the 26-unit Goodall-Brown Lofts as a "Birmingham Loft Portfolio", and sold in 2017 through the Cushman & Wakefield Southeast Multifamily Advisory Group. A neon blade sign mounted to the front façade by Fix Play Displays was preserved and renovated in 2019 to advertise the apartment complex.

The building is presently owned by an affiliate of Southport Financial Services of Tampa, Florida. In May 2024 the owner notified Cru Lounge that its lease would be terminated "due to multiple defaults." That same month the City of Birmingham filed an action in Jefferson County Circuit Court seeking an order to the business and building owner to eliminate criminal activity or be closed down. The owner responded by asking to join the plaintiffs in action against the business operator.

Tenants

References

  • King, Pamela Sterne & Ellen Mertins (August 31, 1981) "Morris Avenue-1st Avenue North Historic District." National Register of Historic Places nomination form - listed January 9, 1986
  • Robinson, Carol (May 8, 2024) "Birmingham sues downtown Cru lounge for being ‘breeding ground’ of lewd behavior, exhibition driving." AL.com
  • Garrison, Greg (May 17, 2024) "Landlord asks to join Birmingham’s lawsuit against bar called a ‘breeding ground’ for crime." AL.com
Retrieved from "http://bhamwiki.com/w/index.php?title=2300_1st_Avenue_North&oldid=215980"