Historic “Little Villa on Highland” may be demolished for apartment development

The historic home at 2931 Highland Avenue South—near Rojo and Rushton Park—may soon be demolished to make way for the construction of a new six-unit apartment building. Read on to learn more.

“The Little Villa on Highland”

Just a hop, skip and a jump from Rojo, “The Little Villa on Highland” is a historic 2,160 square-foot home with three bedrooms and two bathrooms in Highland Park. Constructed in the early 20th century, the home is sandwiched between two multi-family buildings—the Montcalm Apartments and the Highland Club Apartments.

“Built in 1924, the Colby House filled one of the final lots to be developed on Highland Avenue—then the city’s most prestigious residential addresses. Its architect, William Leslie Welton, had trained at M. I. T. in Boston and at The Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris, France. Welton’s talent had contributed to the design of many churches and collegiate, commercial, and residential buildings in Birmingham. These included the Empire and John Hand Buildings as well as the Tutwiler Hotel. Welton also designed the fixtures in Rhodes Park and for George Ward’s Temples of Vesta and Sybil, the later in the year he designed the Colby House for the city’s premier interior decorator.”

Marjorie White, Director, Birmingham Historical Society

According to the property’s Zillow listing, the home has exchanged hands several times in the past decade. Most recently, the home was sold to its current owner for $565,000 on December 22nd, 2022—nearly a year ago.

Up for redevelopment

According to the latest Birmingham Design Review Committee Agenda, current owner Jose Casanova has requested approval to demolish the home and construct a new, six-unit apartment building on the site.

Bham Now reached out to both the owner and S. Phillips Architecture, the architect listed on the project by the Design Review Committee, but did not hear from either in time for publication.

The Highland Park Local Historic Advisory Committee (LHAC) has voted to recommend denying the demolition, as the property is a contributing historic structure in Highland Park.

”Our LHAC is guided by historic preservation principles and strives to preserve all contributing historic structures in Highland Park.”

Elizabeth Sanfelippo, Highland Park Neighborhood President

Although the Highland Park LHAC has recommended denying the proposal, the redevelopment is possible as the property was never rezoned from R-7 (Planned Unit Development District) to R-3 (Two-Family District).

The proposal will be voted on by the Birmingham Design Review Committee at their next meeting on Wednesday, December 13.

What do you think about demolishing “The Little Villa on Highland”? Tag us @bhamnow to let us know!