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A walk in 5 historic Birmingham neighborhoods, including Forest Park
ByNathan Watson
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After living in Birmingham for nearly 6 years, I’ve come to love and appreciate the beautiful historic neighborhoods throughout The Magic City. I decided to learn more about a few of my favorites (and yes, I might be biased!).
1. Forest Park
Okay, let’s talk about that bias. As a resident of Forest Park, I’ve spent a good deal of time in the neighborhood, walking around and viewing the historic homes.
This historic neighborhood, just southeast of downtown Birmingham, traces its roots to the early 1900s. In 1906, the Jemison Land Company began developing residential neighborhoods in the area. Residents in Forest Park had easy access to downtown Birmingham via streetcar.
In Forest Park, you can find hundreds of beautiful historic homes built in the early 1900s—built in styles such as Tudor Revival, Bungalow, Neo-Classical, Queen Anne and more. In addition, the charming Forest Park Village offers cute little shops, such as:
- Shoppe Plant Nursery—This cute plant nursery is definitely a go-to for plants and home decor.
- General Home Goods Store—Owned by the creators of Shoppe, General features all sorts of home goods, from books to tea towels to candles and more.
- Dreamers Supply Co.—This magical spot is filled with face serums, lotions, skin masks and more.
- The Rougaroux—Located in an old residential home, this joint offers po’ boys, gumbo & other Cajun classics.
- Red or White—A new wine shop, with origins in Fairhope, that is open inside the old V. Richards.
Ready to call Forest Park your home? Click here to learn more.
2. Avondale
In 1887, a group of men purchased the land now known as Avondale with the intent to build a new suburb for the infant city of Birmingham. The name Avondale originated in Scotland, meaning “valley of the River Avon.”
It makes sense that Avondale should get its name from an ancient river across the pond. In fact, one of Avondale’s distinguishing features is its natural, freshwater spring. Proclaimed as the sweetest water in the area, water from the Avondale Spring was often brought to downtown Birmingham and sold by the barrel.
Industries such as the Avondale Cotton Mill drew in new residents by the hundreds. By the time Avondale was annexed into Birmingham in 1907, its population had jumped to over 5,000.
Avondale has seen a resurgence in recent years, especially after Avondale Brewing Company opened in 2011. In fact, the Birmingham City Council recently voted to designate Avondale as the city’s 4th entertainment district. Nowadays, you can find all sorts of fun things to do in Avondale, such as:
- Grab a bite at Saw’s Soul Kitchen, Melt, Post Office Pies, Luna Latin Cuisine and (yum!) Big Spoon Creamery.
- Hangout with a drink & see live music at Avondale Brewing Company, Saturn, 41st Street Pub and Aircraft Sales and more.
Ready to call Avondale your home? Click here to learn more.
3. Woodlawn
East of Avondale lies of one Birmingham’s most charming communities: Woodlawn. Woodlawn can trace its roots all the way back to 1815, when a group of farming families—led by Obadiah Washington Wood—settled in the area. By 1891, the community had grown to over 1,500 residents and was incorporated as the City of Woodlawn. Then, in 1910, Woodlawn was officially incorporated into Birmingham as a part of the Greater Birmingham Campaign.
Now, Woodlawn is a hip area bursting with creativity. Although we were sad to see the closing of the Woodlawn Cycle Cafe, there is still a lot to do and see in Woodlawn: murals, new green spaces and tons of charming shops. Plus, you’ll have to stop by and grab a bite at Fat Mama’s Lunch Box or Bayles Restaurant and Catering! And that’s not all—the new i3 Academy is coming to Woodlawn in 2021, and the residents could not be more excited.
Ready to call Woodlawn your new home? Click here to learn more.
4. Roebuck Springs
Just like Avondale, Roebuck Springs gets its name from a natural spring. In 1850, a man named George Roebuck built his log cabin near the spring—and the rest is history. In 1909, the East Lake Land Company purchased a large swath of land in the area for a new subdivision. With the recent advent of the automobile, residents in this neighborhood didn’t have to rely on streetcars to get to downtown Birmingham, so architects were able to design the Roebuck neighborhood with larger estates than streetcar suburbs close to town.
Inside Roebuck, you can find houses designed in some of my favorite architectural styles—such as Craftsman and Tudor Revival. Residents love the easy access to Ruffner Mountain, one of Birmingham’s most beautiful parks and the nearby East Lake Park.
Ready to call Roebuck your home? Click here to learn more.
5. Five Points South
For 6 years, the town of Highland on the slopes of Red Mountain operated independently of Birmingham. After Highland become annexed as a part of Birmingham in 1893, the area thrived as a popular streetcar suburb. While the “downtown” area of Five Points South featured several mid-rise apartments, the landscape was dotted with stately townhomes. In fact, some of the oldest (and in my opinion, prettiest) homes in Birmingham are located in the nearby Anderson Place Historic District.
Now, Five Points South is one of Birmingham hippest areas. With iconic landmarks like the historic Highlands Methodist Church, award-winning restaurants like Highlands Bar & Grill and so much more, Five Points South is an emerging destination like no other. In fact, Five Points South was recently declared Birmingham’s newest entertainment district!
Ready to call Five Points South your new home? Click here to learn more.
Looking for a beautiful home in a historic neighborhood?
If you’re on the lookout for a one-of-a-kind home in one of Birmingham’s historic neighborhoods, do yourself a favor and reach out to the experts at LAH Real Estate. With unparalleled knowledge of the Birmingham area, the team at LAH Real Estate is perfectly positioned to help you find your dream home.
Reach out to the team at your local branch to get started:
- Mountain Brook Office: (205) 870-8580
- Homewood Office: (205) 879-8580
- Hoover Office: (205) 440-4740
- Crestline Office: (205) 588-8474
What is your favorite historic neighborhood in Birmingham? Tag us @bhamnow to let us know!
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