Birmingham Red Cross Building to Convert in Housing

Birmingham’s long-vacant American Red Cross building on Third Avenue North will be converted into workforce housing through a $28.8 million project from the same team that is redeveloping the American Life Building. The Red Cross building, built in the 1940s, has been vacant for more than 20 years. The project’s proximity to the American Life Building in Birmingham’s Opportunity Zone should also help both projects feed each other. Construction should begin in the second half of next year on converting the building into 192 market-rate apartments. That should give the team enough time to secure a Housing and Urban Development loan. “My focus in redevelopment has always been in helping underserved communities, especially in the eastern and western parts of town,” Developer Ed Ticheli said. “I feel like Robin Hood, in that I do deals with wealthy people so that I can do other projects for marginalized communities.” General contractor on the project will be Wyatt Builds, while Hendon & Huckestein Architects will design the project. David Schneider of Schneider Historic Preservation will serve as consultant.