The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-12-31
$20,0O0,000 Invested in New
Industries During Past Year

are S36 and upwards, with all furnaces
sold out for the next three or four
months
Building permits issued by the city
during the year 1919 amounted to APP
proximately 100000 as against ST.
623.367 for the year previous. No sky
scrapers or huge structures of any kind
with the possible exception of the Ten
nessee Companys hospital at Fairfield
are included in these building figures
the major portion Of the permits being
issued to builders of residences and
apartment houses. The number of per
mits issued for repairs during the year
is declared to be abnormally large
doubtless the result of several years
inactivity during the war.
With more than 100000 of building
already in prospect for 1920 and
house shortage of about 5000 homes
realty experts state that Birmingham
will spend close to 100000 during
the ensuing IL months. million dol
lars in schools "a half million in apart
ment houses and hotel additions, and
hundreds of thousands of dollars in
homes have already been set aside for
expenditure next year
MANY HOMES BOUGHT
Real estate sales for the year were
in excess of s15ooo00o the greater
part of which was paid for homes AL
though the number OF sales made was
probably greater than in any year since
1911 no record breaking deals were
pulled Off the largest transaction in
retail property being that whereby
Louis Pizitz acquired title to the
southwest corner of Second and Nine
teenth Nearly half million was paid
by Mr. ,Pizitz for this entire corner
number of sales have been made in
speculative property and close-in va
cant real estate. Only last week the
Majestic theater brought in the neigh
borhood of 1925 600
The rental market was decidedly
bulish especially towarS the closing
months of the year. The demand for
retail stores is stronger al present than
at any time in history and many of the
Second and Third avenue locations have
been leased to parties two years ahead
for increased rentals of FIR ON 35 to rs
per cent Leases involving more than
100000 have BEEN closed for retail
property alone since October 1st
MUCH PAID FOR RENT
1t is estimated that Birmingham ten.
ants paid more than $4,000 600 for
dwelling and apartment house rent
alone during the year. Nearly $1,000
900 was paid for office rent by occu-
pants of the skyscrapers. The largest
single lease closed during the year was
that made by John Leedy with Silver
Brothers for three stores now occu-
pied by NJ. We'll & Bro, Jacobs Phar-
macy and Odom Bowers & White
The death list among prominent cit
liens during the year was large, three
of the circuit judges being included
among those removed by death. The
death list, not complete, however, in
cludes Robert n. Bell. United States
attorney for the northern district OF
Alabama; Judges John H. Miller, Henry
Sharpe and Charles w. Ferguson. of
the Jefferson circuit court; W. D. Wood,
lumber merchant; Henry b. Gray. for
mer lieutenant governor of Alabama,
and president of an insurance company
at the time of his death; John G. Brad
ley, former clerk of the courts; Bishop
John H. Mccoy, of Methodist Episcopal
church, south: w. S. Brown, merchant
John G. Smith, real estate and insur
ance; Judge James j. Garrett, attorney,
DIR. George Fl. Stubs and Charles H.
Nabb, retired hotel manager.