IMG 9695 Pasta plant turned mixed-use development– Macaroni Lofts are coming to Parkside — This project is a redevelopment of the abandoned warehouse at the corner of 4th Avenue South and 14th Street. Photo by Beth Cunningham for Bham Now.

Yet another exciting Birmingham, Alabama addition in the works! Plans for the newest Parkside addition are being unveiled, and we can’t wait. Where does the name Macaroni Lofts come from? What makes this development unique? Keep reading for these answers and more.

The Name

ML2 1 Pasta plant turned mixed-use development– Macaroni Lofts are coming to Parkside — This beautiful space is within walking distance of UAB’s campus. Rendering via Fifth Dimension Architecture.

Did you know there used to be a macaroni factory in Birmingham? Neither did I! In the early 1900s, the Birmingham Macaroni Company was producing around 6,000 lbs. of pasta a day in this factory. The developers wanted to pay homage to the facility’s unique history, so they dubbed the space, “Macaroni Lofts.”

The abandoned warehouse was purchased from the UAB Educational Foundation for $810,000. Built in 1902, this $11 million renovation is set to be completed in Summer 2020, and we’ve got all the details.

The Location

IMG 9703 Pasta plant turned mixed-use development– Macaroni Lofts are coming to Parkside — One block’s walk and you could be cheering on the Birmingham Baron’s at Regions Field! Photo by Beth Cunningham for Bham Now.

Macaroni Lofts will be located at the corner of 4th Avenue South and 14th Street in Parkside. The Parkside area of downtown Birmingham has been exploding recently. The once-industrial region became home to Railroad Park in 2010 and Region’s Field in 2013. It’s also surrounded by huge Birmingham employers like UAB and Children’s Hospital, making it an ideal commute for many residents.

There are multiple Parkside projects currently in the works:

Atlanta-based Monday Night Brewing is opening a brewpub
The Denham Building is undergoing a massive mixed-use renovation
A boutique hotel and mixed-use development will offer 140 rooms and likely drive up tourism in the area

The Residential Units

ML1 1 Pasta plant turned mixed-use development– Macaroni Lofts are coming to Parkside — Live in style at Macaroni Lofts. Rendering via Fifth Dimension Architecture.

Macaroni Lofts will consist of 35 residential units ranging from 347 to 1,750 square feet. The building’s existing structure will remain intact, although several additions will be made– including rooftop penthouse units with private terraces.

The unique thing about these units is that, unlike most of these mixed-use renovations, the residential units will be available for purchase rather than lease.

The design also incorporates 12 newly constructed residential units on the adjacent lot with a community terrace between the two structures (pictured in rendering above).

The Commercial Space

IMG 9690 Pasta plant turned mixed-use development– Macaroni Lofts are coming to Parkside — As any Birmingham developer would tell you, the bones of these old warehouses lend themselves to great opportunities. Photo by Beth Cunningham for Bham Now.

6,000 square feet of ground-floor commercial space will be available in this development, in addition to the residential space.

No word yet on what exactly will be coming to this space, but if it fits the trend of similar Parkside developments, it could be anything from restaurants, coffee shops, breweries, entertainment spaces, and more.