The $ 33 million revitalization of one of Birmingham’s biggest empty horrors is set to begin in July, and the project is supported by a team of students from Tuskegee University.

The transformation of the former five-story, 140,000-square-foot American Red Cross building into 192 apartments, which will be known as Market Lofts on Third, will begin with internal demolition work from mid- July. The building at 2225 Third Ave. N. has been vacant since 1999.

RELATED: Long-Vacant American Red Cross Building in Birmingham Receives $ 30 Million Apartment Rehabilitation

“We’re talking about the same style of units that we have at American Life, the workforce housing units,” said developer Ed Ticheli. “They will measure between 350 square feet and 650 square feet. “

American Red Cross building to become Market Lofts on Third after $ 33 million renovation of Alabama News Center at Vimeo.

Ticheli assembled the same team that worked with him on the $ 24 million renovation of the 12-story, 84,000-square-foot American Life building into 140 workforce housing apartments. It is located one block on the corner of 18th Street and Third Avenue North. The team includes Hendon & Huckestein Architects, Wyatt builds and LMS Real estate investment management.

The new team members this summer are seven interns from Taylor School of Architecture and Construction Science at Tuskegee University (TSACS). Students were selected into the TSACS Mentorship Program by Charner Rodgers, Associate Professor and Senior Coordinator of the school’s Industry Relations and Recruitment program. They will live in the Lofts at American Life and learn about the entire historic renovation process with hands-on learning in architecture, construction, commercial real estate and development.

Additionally, Alabama opportunity, REV Birmingham and the the mayor’s office supported the Market Lofts on Third Project, which, like Lofts at American Life, receives Opportunity Zone funding and historic state and federal tax credits.

For Tuskegee students, working on such an important project is a huge opportunity.

Jocelyn Johnson is a Tuskegee student from Indianapolis. She said the internship gave her exposure to a wide range of her activities.

“I was selected, I think it was mainly because of my interests,” she said. “I am interested in real estate development and I am studying architecture at Tuskegee. Historic preservation, real estate development, commercial real estate – I love it all and wanted to be a part of it.

She said she was excited to learn more about the process.

“In architecture school, we theoretically see how it’s done, but not practically,” Johnson said. “I think the process is what really interests me.

Other students said there were elements of Market Lofts on Third that fit into their own study goal.

“I am very interested in residential construction. It’s good for the experience and my resume, ”said Monet Terrell. “I’m a very practical person so that’s great for me.”

Stephanie Mills is from Cincinnati and loves the affordable housing component of the project.

“I’m interested in affordable housing and was doing my thesis there, so it’s a great way to learn more about affordable housing – which can and can’t be done with it,” Mills said. “I hope to learn more about the building process and how the architecture relates to it.”

She said it’s important to play a small role in adding affordable housing to the market.

“It makes me feel good because they were telling me Birmingham needs around 900 more affordable housing units and we are helping deliver that,” she said.

Fernandez Hunter is from Birmingham and already knew the building and loves seeing all the activity in the city center.

“I hope to understand the life of a building and understand from its demolition to its end,” said Hunter. “I really want to understand all the logistics of restoring a project.

“It will be really important to come home – even if I leave this place – and say, ‘Hey, I got to see this building when it was abandoned and see it come back to life,’ Hunter said. it really is a beautiful thing to see for the city.

Bessemer’s Tyra Murry shares Hunter’s hope that one day she’ll be able to tell others about her work on the project, although she’ll put a little sweat on the way.

“I’m helping my dad around the house anyway, so this building part is really fun,” she said.

Abraham Jones, from Columbus, Ga., Appreciates the value of the internship.

“What made me want to be part of this program is to gain more knowledge, more experience,” he said. “I am very practical and I like to learn so that I can continue my job.

The scope of the project appeals to Lawrence Thompson.

“It’s really nice to see how this project went from zero to the introduction to construction and everything in between,” said Thompson. “I am looking forward to the process.

A floor plan in the Market Lofts on Third being developed in the former American Red Cross building. (Hendon and Huckestein Architects)

A floor plan in the Market Lofts on Third being developed in the former American Red Cross building. (Hendon and Huckestein Architects)

A floor plan in the Market Lofts on Third being developed in the former American Red Cross building. (Hendon and Huckestein Architects)

Nick Miele, president of Wyatt Builds, said construction is expected to take 16 months.

“Whenever we can be a part of anything that helps restore old parts of Birmingham, we want to be a part of it if we can,” Miele said. “We just literally just finished one about a block, 140 apartments, a huge success. We were fortunate enough to be a part of it and when that opportunity arose we did everything we could to be a part of it.

Erik Hendon, director of Hendon & Huckestein, said the building is actually a merger of several buildings.

“The challenge here is that this is a historic building originally built as a one-story market with a second story added,” he said. “In the 1950s the Social Security Administration came and added two more stories to the top, so the challenge here, while maybe not visually architectural, is to integrate all the structural systems, to figure out how we’re going to get units in there.

Miele said the challenge is part of the fun.

“This is definitely an exciting and unique project,” he said. “A lot of people have been through this over the years and didn’t know how. The team we work with understood how.

Hendon said an architectural feature would be a well dug in the middle of the building to bring in natural light. He said the synergy between Market Lofts on Third and Lofts at American Life, combined with restaurants and bars on Second Avenue North, will ensure the success of the project.

“It’s a perfectly placed building,” said Hendon. “I can’t wait to see him come back to life. “

Brad Aldridge of LMS also believes the apartments will be in high demand, having seen most of the 140 Lofts at American Life units rented in just a few months. Only 23 remain available.

“It just got amazing,” Aldridge said. “We started on October 18, 2020 and since then we have become 80% rented. Everyone who walks in seems to like it. We have had great success with residents who appreciate the time they spend there.

Projects like Lofts at American Life and Market Lofts on Third prove there’s a desire to work near you, Aldridge said.

“It’s a better way for people to be downtown and to be able to walk to work,” he said. “It’s closer to working for them where they don’t have to come from the suburbs by car. “