Another Condo Style

Not every urban dweller wants wide open spaces usually associated with loft interiors, says John Lauriello of Southpace Properties, who with his partners are building a dozen boutique condominiums.

“The first floor will be a traditional, lofty area. The second floor has bedrooms with walls and enclosed bathrooms,” he says. “It’ll still have the urban feel, but it will be a little more polished because a lot of people don’t like the raw lofts.”

The twist to this lovely little $10 million development on First Avenue South is that it sits right along Birmingham’s busiest railroad corridor, of all places. It gets its name, Seaboard Yard, for the old yard where railroad companies kept box cars and other equipment.

Lauriello considers the comings and goings of passenger and freight trains a unique amenity in addition to the City skyline. Seaboard Yard is a block from the Pepper Place Farmers Market, Sloss Furnaces, antique stores, restaurants and other lifestyle amenities within walking distance.

The Seaboard Yard site also includes two new buildings: a law office and the living /office space of husband-and-wife architects Tammy Cohen and Richard Carnaggio.

“So what we have developed is this wonderful mixed-use product right in the heart of Birmingham,” Lauriello says.

Vision of the Future

Lauriello says urban living in Birmingham is destined to thrive, considering all the residential projects such as the $6-million, new-from-the-ground-up Pullman Flats condominiums (which are all reserved), not to mention the other commercial and retail projects along First Avenue South and the rest of Downtown.

“It will mean more people, more shops, more restaurants. We’re really well on our way in spite of ourselves. It’s really been amazing,” he says.

“In five years, we will have a vital central business district that is beyond our wildest imagination . . . Everybody wins, for people with low to moderate incomes to people with high incomes. If you have a strong city center, it makes the surrounding neighborhoods better.”

Leo Ticheli shares Lauriello’s optimism about Downtown and city living.

“Five years from now, there will be festivals with antiques, music, food and arts and crafts. You can come to any (cultural activity) Downtown – it’ll be packed with people having a good time. You’ll see women pushing baby carriages. You’ll see people out walking their dogs or jogging,” Ticheli says. “We’re not far from having the critical density where downtown ex-plodes,” he says for emphasis.

“This (urban living) is not for everybody. But for people who are a little more adventurous and who enjoy this kind of life, it’s heaven.”

For more information on the Bristol Southside development, visit its website, www.bristolsouthside.com. Learn more about the other developments at www.theCondominiumShoppe.com