The City of Birmingham will call for new proposals for the catalytic redevelopment of the historic Ramsay McCormack building and other signature properties owned by the City of Birmingham in Ensley’s historic business district. At the corner of Avenue E and 19th Street, the Ramsay McCormack Building anchors the commercial business district in Ensley. The 10-story building, completed in 1929, is a contributing structure to the Downtown Ensley historic district and is on the National Register of Historic Places. In addition to the Ramsay McCormack building, this request for proposals (RFP) includes multi-phase developments for the former Western Police Precinct (616 19th Street, Ensley) and the Western Health Center (1701 Avenue D, Ensley) as well as other nearby parcels.

“The downtown Ensley Commercial Business District is a key priority in my administration’s focus on neighborhood revitalization. We are looking for a creative development partner who has the capacity to make the community’s vision a reality and drive growth around the property for decades to come,” said Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin.

 The City of Birmingham is soliciting proposals for redevelopment to harness the historic building’s potential as a catalyst for further development in Ensley. The city and its partners have surveyed and listened to community residents, business owners and property owners and gathered feedback from developers who reviewed the first proposal request. The city has used that information to develop a more refined request for proposals that is more in line with both the desires of the community and the realities of the project.

Ensley Commercial Business District Buildings RFP timeline:

• RFP released: February 25, 2019
• Proposal Due Date: April 1, 2019
• Selection Announcement: May 3, 2019
• Project Start: Summer 2019

The RFP will be released as a bidding opportunity on February 25, 2019, on the city’s website.

The Mayor's Office and the Department of Innovation and Economic Opportunity represent the interests of the city as owners of the Ramsay McCormack building and other area properties; as well as representatives of the residents of Ensley and Birmingham and their desire for economic growth and opportunity. Through the BOLD grant process, REV Birmingham secured a contract with the city to act as project manager in helping the city to select a development team and assist that team in accomplishing a redevelopment that is financially feasible and represents the needs and desires of the community.

Questions from developers should be submitted in writing to Ramsay.McCormack@birminghamal.gov.