Developers Chosen For Ramsay-McCormack Project

BIRMINGHAM, AL — One of the top priorities in the revitalization of Ensley's downtown district took a step forward this week when a Birmingham City Council committee named a local firm to spearhead the redevelopment of the Ramsay-McCormack building.

The Ramsay-McCormack Building is a 10-story, art-deco style office tower completed in 1929 and resides on the corner of Avenue E and 19th Street Ensley. The city has owned the building since 1983.

The city's Budget and Finance Committee and Economic Development Committee this week approved Ensley District Developers to take on the project. The development agreement will now go before the full council for a vote Tuesday.

Under the agreement, the city will pay up to $200,000 to Ensley District Developers to develop a preliminary plan for redevelopment of the historic Ramsay-McCormack Building. Once reviewed and approved, the city will convey the property to Ensley District Developers and provide an additional $1,300,000 to be applied to pre-development work expenses, related to securing funding for the project, retention of a Birmingham based project manager, development of detailed plans and specifications, and retention of an architect and contractor.

Another $2,500,000 would be provided by the city for construction related costs on the property or infrastructure costs related to the project. The agreement outlines a multi-phase development timeline and dedicates city resources to restoration of the property.

The development agreement is being awarded after a competitive “request for proposals” process which started in February 2019.

The team of developers includes Irvin Henderson, principal of Henderson & Company; Carlton Brown, who specializes in concept, design and marketing; Mike Abebe, focusing on land acquisition, zoning and rental operation; and Gizman Abbas, who handles capital formation, finance and structuring. Together, they’ve completed restoration projects in Washington, D.C.; Chicago; Harlem, N.Y.; and in the country of Rwanda.

"We’re very excited to move forward on this project," Mayor Randall Woodfin said. "For decades, the Ramsay-McCormack Building has been a symbol of blight. Now we have the opportunity to make it a symbol of revitalization, one that will harkens back to the glory days of one of Birmingham’s most historic and cherished neighborhoods."