The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-07-06
STARKE OUTLINES
 AREA OF GROWTH FOR BIRMINGHAM
Realtor Points To Neces. sity Of Expansion
 For Construction

"The recent phenomenal market" de. clared Secretary Starke of the Real Estate board, "for business and semi business property is we'll worth study. ing. There is more in it than simply well-founded confidence in the growth of Birmingham it indicates that there is a conviction abroad that the business area of Birmingham must largely ex. pand, east, west, north and south. Time was when the Golden Rectangle' was bounded on the west by Fourteenth street, on the east by Twenty-siIth street, on the south by First avenue, and on the north by Fifth avenue. The new idea is that this northern boundary should be pushed out to Eighth avenue as is shown by many sales north of Fifth avenue. Probably the three most prominent influences that have brought this about are the location of the audi torium on Eighth avenue, the purchase by the county of the site for the new courthouse, and the, increased traffic alone Eighth avenue west to Ensley.'
 "There is also," continued MT. Starke, "a marked pushing out east and west from the center of the business dis trict. Note the purchase by the Ala bama Power company of the corner at Eighteenth street and Sixth avenue to the west and the new Athletic club and the professional office building at Twen- ty-third street to the east, the former au the corner of Third avenue and the latter at the corner of Fourth avenue. Between these east and west limits may be noted the new Piedmont hotel at Fifth avenue and Twenty-first street, the new block of stores being built at Fourth avenue and Twenty-first street, the Jefferson County Building and Loan office building at Third avenue and Twenty-first street. And the new li- brary is yet to be located.
 Other Activities .
 Not only all of the above, but there has been marked activity on Fourth avenue west of Eighteenth street. Long ago Second avenue, east, improved in a decided manner, and within the last year or so the western end has come into greater favor. First avenue as an axial street from the far east to the far west is bound to be substantial property always. Probably the fact that the two axial streets, First avenue and Twentieth street, meet at the Brown Marx corner accounts for the remark ably heavy development of the four corners at this point, where there is an aggregate of about 6S stories" Attention was also called to the marked confidence in the growth of Birmingham's population as shown in the tremendous number of homes being built and the many smaller apartment houses. But the outstanding features of this confidence are the three new enormous apartment houses being con structed on the Highlands, the Alta mont apartments, Highland plaza and Claridge Manor. '
 Board Must BeStir
 "The new city directory puts 224,S30 as the estimated population of Bir- mingham, and 245, 900 as the estimated Lpopulation of the metropolitan area, in cluding Bessemer. This means that the Birmingham Real Estate board must bestir itself if it is to measure up; to the new vision of the responsibility that rests upon the realtors of America for the proper development of their cities through proper regulations in regard to surveys, buildings, parks, street dimen- sions, public service corporations, sani- tation, zoning, etc. Constant thought should be- devoted at this time to the Birmingham of 1950 The city. is q sapling yet and will still respond to intelligent direction without prohibitive cost or inexorable opposition. Changes that could be effected now without enormous cost may have to be made 20 years hence by a sort of municipal sur gerry that would be enormously expen- sive. Only three illustrations need be mentioned, namely: the establishment of a civic center, the. solution of the grade crossings and the complete open ing up of traffic from South Highlands to the present business center, and the widening of South Twentieth street from Five Points to Avenue G. 1mag- inc what the situation in this city will be a few years hence if these things, for instance, have been left undone.
 "Every realtor in this city should read that excellent paper submitted to the National Association of Real Estate Boards by J. c. Nichols of Kansas City at the recent convention in Washington, and entitled Responsibilities and Oppor- tunities of Real Estate Boards in Building Cities It is an eye-opener to the man in real estate who wants to measure up to the responsibilities of real estate as a profession. Even our City Fathers could here find hints richly worth their time."
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