5th Avenue North: Difference between revisions

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* [[15th Street North]] intersects
* [[15th Street North]] intersects
** 1501-1503: former location of [[Birmingham Tobacco Co.]] wholesale (1941)
** north side ([[Block 43]]):
*** 1501: former location of [[American District Telegraph Co.]] (1970)
*** 1510: former location of [[A. G. Gaston Motel]] (1956), [[A. G. Gaston's Supper Club]], [[A. G. Gaston Apartments]] (1970)
*** 1503: former location of [[Hill's Food Stores|Hill Grocery Co.]] (1926)
*** 1516-1518: former location of [[Salvation Army Birmingham Area Command|The Salvation Army]] social services and store (1925-1941)
** 1509: former location of [[A. G. Gaston Motel]] annex (1970)
**** 1518: former location of [[Paul Gilardoni residence]] (1905)
** 1510: former location of [[A. G. Gaston Motel]] (1956), [[A. G. Gaston's Supper Club]]
*** 1524: former location of [[Townsend Gulf Service Station]] (1970)
** 1513: former location of [[C.J. Wagner]] contractor (1887)
** south side ([[Block 64]]):
** 1516-1518: former location of [[Salvation Army Birmingham Area Command|The Salvation Army]] social services and store (1925-1941)
*** 1501-1503: former location of [[Birmingham Tobacco Co.]] wholesale (1941)
*** 1518: former location of [[Paul Gilardoni residence]] (1905)
**** 1501: former location of [[American District Telegraph Co.]] (1970)
** 1527-1530: [[A. G. Gaston Building]] (built 1960), former location of [[Booker T. Washington Business College]] / [[Booker T. Washington Burial Insurance Co.]] (1941-)
**** 1503: former location of [[Hill's Food Stores|Hill Grocery Co.]] (1926)
*** 1509: former location of [[A. G. Gaston Motel]] annex (1970)
*** 1513: [[Citizens Drugs]], former location of [[C.J. Wagner]] contractor (1887)
*** 1523: former location of [[Christian Methodist Episcopal Church]] district office (1970)
*** 1527-1530: [[A. G. Gaston Building]] (built 1960)


* [[16th Street North]] intersects
* [[16th Street North]] intersects
** North side ([[Block 44]]):
** north side ([[Block 44]]):
*** 1600-1630: [[Kelly Ingram Park]] (formerly [[West Park]] or [[West End Park]])
*** 1600-1630: [[Kelly Ingram Park]] (formerly [[West Park]] or [[West End Park]])
** South side ([[Block 63]]):
** south side ([[Block 63]]):
*** 1601-1607: [[Arthur D. Shores Law Center]], [[CREED63]] (2021–)
*** 1601-1607: [[Arthur D. Shores Law Center]], [[CREED63]] (2021–)
**** 1601: former location of [[J D's Grocery]] ([[Mary DePiazzo]] 1958)
**** 1601: former location of [[J D's Grocery]] ([[Mary DePiazzo]] 1958), [[American Pharmakon Products Inc.]] (1970)
**** 1603-1605: former location of [[U. S. Postal Service]] garage (1941)
**** 1603-1605: former location of [[U. S. Postal Service]] garage (1941)
***** 1603: former location of [[A&P|Great A&P Tea Co.]] grocery store (1926)
***** 1603: former location of [[A&P|Great A&P Tea Co.]] grocery store (1926), [[Cannolene Co.]] cosmetics / [[Daniel J. Faulkner Memorial Library]] / [[Youth Development Inc.]] (1970)
***** 1605: former location of [[R. G. Snider Concrete Co.]] (1925)
***** 1605: former location of [[R. G. Snider Concrete Co.]] (1925), [[Co-Op Beauty Salon]] (1970)
**** 1607: former location of [[Shelley’s Record Mart]] (1963)
**** 1607: former location of [[Shelley’s Record Mart]] (1963), [[Williams Sounds Unlimited]] records (1970)
*** 1609-1631: [[Freedom Manor]] apartments ((addressed 1617, built 1986)
*** 1609: former location of [[Johnson Bros. Beauty Supply]] (1970)
**** 1617: former location of [[Frank May]], physician / [[Judie White]] chiropodist / [[Henry May]] coal dealer (1941)
*** 1611: former location of [[Johnny Figgs]] furnished rooms (1970)
**** 1623-1631: former location of [[Temple Emanu-El]] (1889-1914), [[Fifth Avenue Hotel]] (1920-1925), [[Gary Hotel]] / [[Gary Restaurant]] (1926-1952)  
**** 1611 rear: former location of [[Lindsay Tailors]] (1970)
***** 1623-1625: former location of [[Consumers Electronic Co.]] (1926)
*** 1617-1631: [[Freedom Manor]] apartments (built 1986)
**** 1617: former location of [[Frank May]], physician / [[Judie White]] chiropodist / [[Henry May]] coal dealer (1941), [[George's Parking]] (1970)
**** 1623-1631: former location of [[Temple Emanu-El]] (1889-1914), [[Fifth Avenue Hotel]] (1920-1925), [[Gary Hotel]] / [[Gary Restaurant]] (1926-1952), [[La Rosa Hotel]] (1970)
***** 1623-1625: former location of [[Consumers Electronic Co.]] (1926), [[Smitty's Men's Wear]] (1970)
***** 1629-1631: former location of [[Aqua Lounge]] ([[H. T. Ward]] 1960s-1977)
***** 1629-1631: former location of [[Aqua Lounge]] ([[H. T. Ward]] 1960s-1977)
****** 1629: former location of [[Alsop]] printing service (1924)
****** 1629: former location of [[Alsop]] printing service (1924), [[Aqua Cocktail Lounge]] (1970)
****** 1631: former location of [[Dixie Barbecue]] restaurant/confectioner (1941), [[Le Bistro Hickory House]] restaurant
****** 1631: former location of [[Dixie Barbecue]] restaurant/confectioner (1941), [[Le Bistro Hickory House]] restaurant (1970)


* [[17th Street North]] intersects
* [[17th Street North]] intersects
** North side ([[Block 45]]):
** north side ([[Block 45]]):
*** 1700–1730: [[Birmingham Parking Authority]] [[Birmingham Parking Authority Deck 7|Deck 7]] (built 1987)
*** 1700–1730: [[Birmingham Parking Authority]] [[Birmingham Parking Authority Deck 7|Deck 7]] (built 1987)
**** 1700–1702: former location of [[John M. Hennessy]] men's clothes (1941)
**** 1700–1702: former location of [[John M. Hennessy]] men's clothes (1941)
***** 1700: former location of ''[[Birmingham Times]]'' (1970)
***** 1700: former location of ''[[Birmingham Times]]'' (1970)<!--?-->
***** 1702: former location of [[O'Keefe & Lyons Electric Co.]] (1926)
***** 1702: former location of [[O'Keefe & Lyons Electric Co.]] (1926)
**** 1704: [[City Action Partnership]]
**** 1704: [[City Action Partnership]], former location of [[House of Health and Beauty]] fitness studio (1970)
**** 1712: [[Juanakee Adams]], optometrist
**** 1712: [[Juanakee Adams]], optometrist
**** 1714: former location of [[New Orleans Bakery]] / [[John Laloge]] (1887–1888)
**** 1714: former location of [[New Orleans Bakery]] / [[John Laloge]] (1887–1888)
**** 1716: [[Huggs & Kisses]] sick child care, former location of [[Church of the Nazarene]] (1926, 1928), former location of [[First Spiritualist Church]] (1928)
**** 1716: [[Huggs & Kisses]] sick child care, former location of [[Church of the Nazarene]] (1926, 1928), [[First Spiritualist Church]] (1928)
**** 1718–1722: former location of [[Birmingham Seminary]] (1904), [[DeSoto Hotel]] annex (1926)
**** 1718–1722: former location of [[Birmingham Seminary]] (1904), [[DeSoto Hotel]] annex (1926)
***** 1720: former location of [[Dixie Drive-It-Yourself System]] truck rental (1941–1970)
***** 1720: former location of [[Dixie Drive-It-Yourself System]] truck rental (1941–1970)
***** 1722: former location of [[Ace Garage]] auto repair (1941)
***** 1722: former location of [[Ace Garage]] auto repair (1941), [[Ans-O-Phone of Birmingham]] / [[Building Service Co.]] (1970)
**** 1724–1730: former location of [[Central Presbyterian Church]] (1890–1915)
**** 1724–1730: former location of [[Central Presbyterian Church]] (1890–1915)
***** 1724: former location of [[Western Union]] office (1970)
***** 1724: former location of [[Reid Distributing Co.]] (1970)
***** 1726: former location of [[Oriental Tea & Coffee Co.]] (1926–1941), [[Reid Distributing Co.]] (1970)
***** 1726: former location of [[Oriental Tea & Coffee Co.]] (1926–1941)
***** 1728: former location of [[Erie Leather Co.]] (1926), hotel lobby (1970)
***** 1728: former location of [[Erie Leather Co.]] (1926)
***** 1730: former location of [[Bill's Place]], [[Happy John Bollas|Happy John Bollas Barbecue)]] restaurant (1920s–1960s), [[Music Center]] (1970)
***** 1730: former location of [[Bill's Place]], [[Happy John Bollas|Happy John Bollas Barbecue)]] restaurant (1920s–1960s), [[Music Center]] (1970)<!--?-->
** south side ([[Block 62]]):
** south side ([[Block 62]]):
*** [[1729 5th Avenue North|1701-1729]]:  
*** [[1729 5th Avenue North|1701-1729]]:  
Line 141: Line 148:
***** 1819½: former location of [[Moses Sigler]] dance instructor (1926)
***** 1819½: former location of [[Moses Sigler]] dance instructor (1926)
**** 1821: former location of [[Fraser's Garage]] (1926), [[Central Supply Co.]] barbers' supply (1941), [[Alabama Typewriter Co.]] (1970)
**** 1821: former location of [[Fraser's Garage]] (1926), [[Central Supply Co.]] barbers' supply (1941), [[Alabama Typewriter Co.]] (1970)
**** 1823: former location of [[Burnett & Johnson]] jewelers / [[R. S. Sensibaugh]] printer (1926), [[Burnett Jewelry Co.]] (1941-1970), [[House of Exotics]] patio lounge
**** 1823: former location of [[Burnett & Johnson]] jewelers / [[R. S. Sensibaugh]] printer (1926), [[Burnett Jewelry Co.]] (1941-1970), [[Patio Restaurant and Lounge]] (1970), [[House of Exotics]] patio lounge
***** 1823½: former location of [[Industrial Life & Health Insurance Co.]] (1926), [[William Price]] and [[Randolph Hobbs]] attorneys / [[Birmingham Furniture Dealers Association]] (1941), luggage store (1970)
***** 1823½: former location of [[Industrial Life & Health Insurance Co.]] (1926), [[William Price]] and [[Randolph Hobbs]] attorneys / [[Birmingham Furniture Dealers Association]] (1941), luggage store (1970)
**** 1825-1827: former location of [[Quan You Laundry]] (1941)
**** 1825-1827: former location of [[Quan You Laundry]] (1941)
***** 1825: former location of [[Charles Schwend]] locksmith / [[Anton Speaker]] watchmaker (1926)
***** 1825: former location of [[Charles Schwend]] locksmith / [[Anton Speaker]] watchmaker (1926), [[Central Loan Co.]] (1970)
***** 1827: former location of [[Joe Jung]] laundry (1926)
***** 1827: former location of [[Joe Jung]] laundry (1926)
**** 1829: former location of [[Mayer's Wall Paper & Frame Shop]] (1926), [[Excelsior Cafe]] (1928), [[Post Office Cafe]] (1941-1970)
**** 1829: former location of [[Mayer's Wall Paper & Frame Shop]] (1926), [[Excelsior Cafe]] (1928), [[Post Office Cafe]] (1941-1970)

Revision as of 16:15, 22 June 2024

5th Avenue North is an east-west downtown street in Birmingham's northside. It ends at a drainage headwall for Valley Creek at 7th Street North to the west and becomes Messer Airport Highway to the east as it crosses below the Elton B. Stephens Expressway and the Norfolk Southern Railroad.

The eastern end of 5th Avenue North downtown was once the principal entranceway into Birmingham by rail, as it was the site of the Birmingham Terminal Station. Many of Birmingham's early hotels were constructed along 5th Avenue heading west toward 20th street from the station.

The intersection of 5th Avenue North with 24th Street North is close to the geographical center of Birmingham. A large storm culvert extends from downtown to I-65 below 5th Avenue North.

There is a short, block-long strip of 5th Avenue North adjacent to Forest Hill Cemetery in Woodlawn and another dead-end section between Trotwood Park and I-59. A longer section of 5th Avenue North is located in East Lake between 73rd and 90th Streets. An unconnected short dead-end section can also be accessed by 91st Street North near Zion Memorial Gardens.

History

In 1945 electric lighting was installed on 5th Avenue North between Center Street and 19th street under the city's contract with the Birmingham Electric Company.

In October 1958 5th Avenue North was converted into a four-lane thoroughfare by eliminating on-street parking from Bush Boulevard in the west to 41st Street in Avondale. The move was expected to increase the street's traffic-carrying capacity by 30 percent and was part of a traffic plan by which 1st and 5th Avenues would serve as cross-town thoroughfares while 2nd, 3rd and 4th would serve for bus traffic and as connectors to the downtown business district. The installation of new coordinated traffic signals and the removal of obsolete streetcar wires was part of the conversion.

5th Avenue North was converted from two-way to one-way (eastbound) traffic was from 9th Street North to Red Mountain Expressway in 1973 by the Alabama Department of Transportation's TOPICS (Traffic Operations Program to Increase Capacity and Safety) program.

Notable locations

Fountain Heights neighborhood

Central City neighborhood

Jane Speed's Book Store at 1907 5th Avenue North, 1937-1940
Krystal hamburger stand at 5th and 20th

Woodlawn neighborhood

North East Lake neighborhood

References

  • "Fun facts, historical tidbits and tips to find your way around Birmingham from traffic engineer John Garrett." (January 2, 2007) Birmingham News
  • "Fifth Avenue Becomes Through-Street" (October __, 1958) Birmingham News