Central City in Birmingham in Jefferson County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

The Berry Project

Photographed by Tim & Renda Carr, April 10, 2010

1. The Berry Project Marker

Inscription. This row of buildings from 2009 to 2017 Second Avenue dates from the early years of the 20th century and has undergone a variety of changes and modernizations over the years. Originally part of a larger building that burned in 1944 (now the site of Brombergs’s), 2009 survived and was rebuilt and known for many years as the Lee Building. Martha Washington Lunch originally occupied 2013, and 2017 was originally known as Gunn’s Drug Store. Burger Dry Goods was the first occupant of 2015, a fine building designed by H. D. Breeding and completed in 1906. The Burger-Phillips Company occupied the three buildings from 2013-17 in the 1920’s. The Burger building was remodeled in 1939 and again in 1954, both times for large furniture businesses. In the 1960’s the Lee Building was completely faced with marble panels.

In 1983, 2013-17 was redeveloped once more, taking advantage of federal tax credits for historic rehabilitation and removing much of the face material that had obscured the buildings original appearance. At that time 2015 became known as the Berry Building, and that name has been retained.

As part of their commitment to downtown preservation and vitality, developer John Lauriello, Southpace Properties, Inc. and investor Steve Lichter purchased these properties in 1996 and arranged for their rehabilitation as offices for a number of professional firms. Moody & Associates was responsible for design services, and Craftsman Construction was the general contractor. An important aspect of this work was a study of the original appearance of the buildings and an effort was made to recover this as much as possible. Owners and tenants are Longshore, Buck & Longshore; Bouzoukis & Oglesby; Durward & Cromer; Dillard, Goozee & King, Smith, Spires & Peddy, and Atelier Digital, Inc. The individuals represented by these

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

firms have returned this row of historic buildings to successful economic use and this part of the downtown district to a more vital activity.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 2009.

Location. 33° 30.931′ N, 86° 48.34′ W. Marker is in Birmingham, Alabama, in Jefferson County. It is in Central City. It is on 2nd Avenue North, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2015 2nd Avenue North, Birmingham AL 35203, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American South

and specifically in the Deep South.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Dewberry Drugs and Phenix Insurance Company Buildings

Photographed by Tim & Renda Carr, April 10, 2010

2. The Berry Project Marker

(within shouting distance of this marker); The Heaviest Corner On Earth (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Steiner Bank Building (about 500 feet away); Title Building (about 600 feet away); Morris Avenue Historic District / Elyton Land Company (about 600 feet away); Concord Center (about 600 feet away); Jefferson County Courthouse Site (about 600 feet away); Celebrity Star Power (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Birmingham.

The Berry Project Buildings: 2009 to 2017 Second Avenue North image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim & Renda Carr, April 10, 2010

3. The Berry Project Buildings: 2009 to 2017 Second Avenue North

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on November 29, 2010, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama. This page has been viewed 1,729 times since then and 59 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 29, 2010, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.