New Elyton Hotel Blends Old Birmingham With New
The old Colonial Bank Building at the corner of 1st Avenue North and 20th Street downtown stood vacant for years. Today it opens as an upscale hotel with a polished face and a plush interior, reminiscent of the city’s history as a center for industry and commerce.
This 17-story stone-washed building sat on what was known as the heaviest corner, because of the sheer size of the buildings and the business they did. Now with its renovation into the Elyton Hotel, Birmingham leaders are looking toward more revitalization.
“It’s coming back to life now,” Mayor William Bell said while touring the building Tuesday. “Through the partnership with the developer, the city, and other interested parties, we look forward to doing other projects like this throughout the city of Birmingham.”
Hotel developers used state historic tax credits in the $45 million project. Its name, Elyton, comes from the former town that was the center of trade and government through the mid 19th century.
The Elyton includes 117 rooms, a rooftop bar, and a restaurant.
Denise Vandersall, the general manager, says that history is reflected in almost every aspect of the venue, from the chandeliers to the old brass mail chutes.
“It’s bringing back the past and integrating it with the modern and showing people what was there many years ago,” she says.
Only one building – the Brown Marx Building — remains vacant at 1st and 20th, but no development plans have been announced.
Almost 200,000 Palestinians displaced by latest Israeli military offensive
Israel has ordered tens of thousand of Gazans to move to zone in the south
Susan Brownmiller, whose landmark book changed attitudes on rape, dies at 90
In 1975, Against Our Will: Men, Women and Rape explored pernicious cultural and legal attitudes about rape and helped debunk the long-held view that victims were partly to blame.
A video of the French president’s wife shoving him went viral. Here’s why it matters
Macron said that the video depicts the couple "joking" and dismissed it as part of a disinformation campaign. Experts say Russian accounts are trying to undermine his image as a strong advocate for the West.
US Sen. Tommy Tuberville announces 2026 bid for Alabama governor
His announcement on the Will Cain Show on Fox News followed weeks of speculation, and associates saying Tuberville planned to enter the race. The former coach is expected to be a formidable entry in the governor’s race.
55-year-old Kami Rita Sherpa breaks his own record: climbing Mount Everest 31 times
Lumping his 31 feats together, Kami Rita Sherpa has climbed nearly 90,000 feet above sea level on the famous peak. He first climbed to the top of the world's highest mountain in 1994.
Elon Musk’s Starship rocket will try to launch again tonight
After two spectacular failures, SpaceX is hoping this test flight will go more smoothly for the behemoth rocket.