Highland Plaza Apartments
The Highland Plaza Apartments, now the Highland Plaza Condominiums) is an 8-story residential building built in 1924 at 2250 Highland Avenue, at the intersection of 23rd Street South.
The luxurious brick and limestone building was designed in a Beaux-Arts style by Denham, Van Keuren & Denham architects and built by the Smallman Brice Construction Company for a cost of $800,000. At the time of its opening, the building included 85 total apartments in the following configurations: 14 six-room units, 27 five-room units, 26 three-room units, 10 two-room units, and 8 bachelor units. The building formally opened on October 12, 1924. The Plaza Garages on present-day 10th Terrace South were constructed in part for tenants of Highland Plaza.
The first floor and eighth-floor windows are topped with circular arches and the roof parapet is enriched with a classical dentil moulding. The H-shaped plan with large windows and nine-foot ceilings provides for light-filled apartments. The lobby is finished with marble floors and hardwood paneling.
Extensive shoring of the foundations was undertaken in advance of the construction of the nearby Highland Avenue Overpass. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. It was renovated and converted to condominiums in 1987 by the Hillmark Corporation of Madison, Wisconsin.
Notable residents
- Houston Brice, executive of Smallman Brice Construction Company, became a tenant when the building opened
- Louis Saks lived at Highland Plaza in retirement.
- Actor Glenn Shadix moved to Highland Plaza after his house in Bessemer burned down
References
- Staff Reporters (July 10, 1923) "Eight-story apartment house to be erected corner Highland and Elm at a cost of $800,000" The Birmingham News - via Newspapers.com
- Staff Reporters (October 12, 1924) "Highland Plaza to open Sunday" The Birmingham News - via Newspapers.com
- Staff Reporters (November 23, 1924) "First group of new style garages designed for individual use is completed" The Birmingham News - via Newspapers.com