The Birmingham skyline will look a little different from the south very soon.

Those used to seeing the Landing logo on the south façade of the John Hand Building will see the sign change to one for CommerceOne Bank, a new bank where Landing and Shipt founder Bill Smith serves as a founding board member. Smith was present for the committee presentation.

Two additional signs for the bank will be added to the building.

The project was originally scheduled to be reviewed on Sept. 24, but it was removed at the applicant’s request before the meeting began. The committee worked with Smith and his team to ensure the signage would have a minimal impact on the historic building’s exterior.

Vintage hotel sign leaves Downtown Northwest

Those driving along Sixth Avenue North will also notice a signage change. The bright blue Tourway Inn sign is going yellow as the motel is set to change ownership to a Super 8. The pole sign’s shape also changes due to the new logo.

Two Roebuck Springs residential projects also appeared before the committee this week. The neighborhood’s design review committee recommended approval for both. One project is for a new roofline, and the other allows for replacement windows.

A window into changes to design review overlay in Roebuck Springs

Since the midcentury home with the replacement window project is not a contributing structure to the historic district, the homeowners were able to change the orientation of the windows.

The home, however, is now old enough to become a contributing structure. According to the National Park Service, buildings constructed more than 50 years ago are eligible to be considered as contributing structures to historic districts. Any buildings that now qualify as historic in the neighborhood won’t be considered contributing until the overlay district’s inventory is updated.

Highland Park presentation postponed

The five agenda items in the Highland Park neighborhood were requested to be removed from the agenda by the applicant earlier in the week. Since releasing the agenda last week, social media has been abuzz with opinions on the presentation of plans for demolition on these properties.

While it had been reported that the Design Review Committee had “plans to approve” the demolition, this meeting was to be the first presentation and discussion of the owner’s plans for the sites.

These items will be presented to the committee sometime in 2026.

December Committee Decisions by Neighborhood

Downtown / Birmingham Green

• Signage – John Hand Building, 17 20th Street North – The committee approved the signage plans with conditions for size reduction on the parapet sign.

Downtown / Northwest

• Signage – Tourway Inn, 1101 Sixth Avenue North – The committee conditionally approved the new Super 8 signage based on receiving approval of a Zoning variance.

Roebuck Springs

• Roof Reconfiguration – Valley Road – The committee approved as presented.
• Replacement Windows – Valley Road – The committee approved as presented.

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Twice a month, the City of Birmingham’s Design Review Committee convenes to discuss plans to make alterations to structures that fall within one of the city’s many historic and commercial revitalization districts. In these districts, approval from the Design Review Committee is required before permits can be obtained. This recap of Design Review includes the decisions made at the November 17, 2025, meeting.

As outlined in the application process, the committee’s decisions are binding, and applicants are responsible for carrying out the plans as presented and approved. Any deviations from the approved plans shall not be undertaken without a return to the committee for approval.