Reviewed by: Pat Byington
$5M incentive proposed for Ramsay McCormack development in Ensley
Reading time: 3 minutes
Four years after the demolition of the original Ramsay McCormack Building in Ensley, the City of Birmingham is considering a $5 million incentive package to kickstart the development of a “new” Ramsay McCormack Building.
The original Ramsay McCormack was Ensley’s tallest building
Constructed in 1929, the original Ramsay McCormack Building was a 10-story Art Deco office tower located on the corner of Avenue E and 19th Street in Ensley. Once home to tenants like the Bank of Ensley and local offices for U.S. Steel, the Ramsay McCormack Building suffered a series of setbacks in the 1970s and officially closed its doors in 1979.
Fun fact: The City of Birmingham purchased the original Ramsay McCormack Building in 1983 for a single dollar.
Over the following four decades, the aging, vacant building continued to deteriorate. In 2020, the City of Birmingham deemed the building unsafe for renovation and began the demolition of the then-91-year-old structure.
$5M incentive proposed for Ramsay McCormack redevelopment
As part of the proposal, Ensley District Developers entered into an agreement with the city to redevelop the Ramsay McCormack site following demolition. Colloquially referred to as the “new” Ramsay McCormack, the proposed redevelopment is a five-story, 30,000-square-foot LEED-certified commercial structure styled after the original building.
In 2023, the City of Birmingham unanimously approved plans for the redevelopment at 508 19th St Ensley. Several local entities are involved in the project, including:
- Ensley District Developers
- Stewart Perry Construction and Architectural Works
- Charles Williams & Associates
- Dragon Energy Consulting
- Bhate Geosciences
To help kickstart the redevelopment, the City of Birmingham is considering a $5 million incentive package consisting of:
- An initial $2 million cash payment
- A $3 million loan that would be forgiven if the project is completed
According to Birmingham City Council President Darrell O’Quinn, the $5 million incentive package is meant to bridge the gap between the projected cost of the project and the amount the developer has secured from long-term tenant commitments.
“As part of the $5 million investment, the City of Birmingham would have space in the building. Currently, the intent is to use that space for workforce training as part of the Reinvest Birmingham Recompete Plan.”
Darrell O’Quinn, Council President, Birmingham City Council
The Birmingham City Council will vote on the proposal during its meeting on Tuesday, March 4.
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