Birmingham Design Review tables decision to demolish The Little Villa on Highland Avenue

Today, the Birmingham Design Review Committee tabled an application to demolish the Historic Villa on Highland Avenue.

In December, Bham Now reported that the historic home at 2931 Highland Avenue South was on the Birmingham Design Review Committee (BDRC) agenda for consideration of an application by current owner Jose Casanova to demolish the building and make way for the construction of a new six-unit apartment building.

Design Review Committee 

The agenda item has subsequently been withdrawn several times until today, when all parties spoke to the committee. 

After presentations and discussion, the committee voted to table the application.

“The [Birmingham Design Review Committee] hopes that the parties will sit down and work something out that is mutually amicable for everyone.

~ Richard Mauk, Chair of the Birmingham Design Review Committee told Bham Now after the meeting

About the Home, a petition and studies

Built in 1924, the home was designed by William Leslie Welton, the architect of prominent buildings in Birmingham including the Empire and John Hand Buildings as well as the Tutwiler Hotel.

Since news about the possible demolition of the building came out three months ago the neighborhood started a petition opposing it, garnering 2000+ signatures.

Local 501-c-3 Friends of Highland Park also commissioned an engineer to give an opinion on whether the home was worth salvaging. The report contradicts the homeowner’s studies, which say that the home is irreparable.

What’s next for The Little Villa on Highland?

In the meantime, the Highland Park Local Historic Advisory Committee (LHAC) did recommend denying the demolition of the home because of its historic significance, per their guidelines.

The Design Review Committee meets every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month. Next meeting? March 13th at City Hall.