The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-07-02
Deal COnsummated Yester-
day by Which Lot Was
Secured for S150,000
BE history BUILDING
AND PERHAPS HIGHER
Total Investment win Reach ssio,p'
and Probably Go to Million.
To Be Completed by
October, 1913

The Wilson corner was acquired yester-
day by the jefferson Realty company,
owned by the Jefferson County Savings
Bank from the Bragg estate of Montgom-
cry. The consideration was s15oooo for
the lot measuring rs feet on Second
avenue and running northward along
Twenty-first street 100 feet. The site will
be used for the 17-story skyscraper TO be
erected by the jefferson County Savings
bank. and for which several sets of plans
have already been submitted by the lead
ing architects of Birmingham.
The sale was made for the Bragg es-
tate by s. B. Marks and W. B. Marks of
Montgomery, executors of the estate w.
n. Malone and Eugene F. Enslen acted
for the bank. Mr. Malone, who has been
working valiantly to get a skyscraper for
the site In question, was in perfect ae-
cord with the finale of the deal His re-
Gently acquired property, corner Second
avenue and Twenty-first street adjoining
the northern extremity of the Bragg prop
erty, will be a part of the skyscraper site
For that 100000 was paid. The total pur-
chase price of the property was S21o,ooo
Upon that site will be erected a skyscrap-
| er costing $700,O00 financsah arrangements
for which have already been concluded
by otto Marx of Otto Marx and company
bankers, and Mr.. Ensen,
First Plans Changed
Eugene f, Enslen, president of the bank
to erect the skyscraper, some weeks ago
gave out statement to the effect that
the bank building would be on the present
bank site, situated on the southeast cor
ner of Twenty street and Second
avenue However, negotiations entered
into between Mr.. Malone, Mr.. Enslen and
others interested, with the executors OF
the Bragg estate ended in the develop
ments of yesterday
The lot in the transfer contract is noted
as Lots IS and 10 In block SIS, of the city
of Birmingham, situated on the northwest
corner of Second avenue and Twenty first
street, Familiarity known as the Wilson
hotel corner"
Mr.. Enslen gave out this statement
when the contract was finally signed:
"The new building will be erected as
soon as possible. When Edward K
Campbell, counsel for this bank, re-
turns from Baltimore he will arrange
the legal formalities for the creation
of the Jefferson Realty company, which
company will be owned by the PATTERSON
County Savings bank The Wilson
hotel will be torn down at once, as we
expect to ask for demolition bids with
in the next few days. We expect 10 be
| in the building no later than October
1918.
Larger Than First National
| 1t will be larger than the First Ma
tional bank building and will be in
every possible detail modern We have
several designs on file. none of which
have been selected The building Will
cost when completed 100000, according
| to the present estimates. The invest
ment will be actually 100000, perhaps
an even 81, 900, 900 We may determine
to put up the highest building in the
state of Alabama of any description. II
will be at least II stories high, accord
| ing to the plans submitted,
| The final acquiring OF the Bragg
property, known more widely as the
| Wilson corner, ends all speculation as
to what would become of that very
valuable piece of land. 1t was first
suggested as the Underwood hotel
and was being promoted as such when
| the Roden and Tutwiler hotels ended
speculation in that connection. 1t was
| then offered for the Jefferson County
Savings bank but several bitches &C.
Cured which for time tended to mud
| die the outlook. However, the entire
plan for the jefferson County bank
building. has been financed and every
thing done that could be done at this
time looking to the success of the new
lbuildingl The present home OF the
Jefferson County bank will be held. as
1t is for the present, according TO Mr..
E1islen,a as it willibe over one year be-
fore the new bank building is COM
pleted