Fate of “The Little Villa on Highland” historic home postponed till January 10th

The Birmingham Design Review Committee (DRC) must wait a month to consider plans to demolish “The Little Villa on Highland” and build back apartments in its place at 2931 Highland Avenue.

Per a request by the applicant, the proposal, which appeared on DRC’s December 13th agenda,  was moved Tuesday morning to the January 10th DRC meeting.

Recognizable home on Highland Avenue

A distinctive small Mediterranean Revival-style house near Rojo and sandwiched between two multi-family buildings—the Montcalm Apartments and the Highland Club Apartments, the home was designed by William Leslie Welton, one of The Magic City’s most renowned architects. 

Below is a description of the place by Marjorie White, Director, Birmingham Historical Society. She identifies the house as the Colby House after W.D. Colby, the first owner and proprietor of the Birmingham Decorating Company.

“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

Highland Park zoning 

The Highland Park Local Historic Advisory Committee (LHAC) did recommend denying the demolition of the home because of its historic significance.

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

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