On the corner of 3rd Avenue and 16th Street North, you’ll find Nextec, a redevelopment of the 90-year-old, 65,000-square-foot Edwards Motor Company building (also formerly known as the Sticks ‘N’ Stuff building). With experience in historic renovation, developer Michael Mouron, chairman of Capstone Real Estate Investments, began this civic project in 2021 as a space for business startups to continue their work in the Magic City – a function encouraged by REV Birmingham, a nonprofit whose mission is to drive economic development and create vibrant commercial districts in Birmingham.
Now a completed and fully leased project, Nextec includes communal areas and flexible workspaces, as well as a pocket park. Thanks in part to Alabama Historic Tax Credits, Federal Historic Tax Credits, New Market Tax Credits and a grant from the City of Birmingham, the historical value of the building was saved and repurposed, with nods to its past as Edwards Chevrolet found throughout its halls in the form of memorabilia provided by Lee Edwards.
“The objective of this building was to be the relief point for companies leaving Innovation Depot,” said Mouron. “It was designed to be a place that was cool, ready and flexible – at a below-market rental rate – in order to attract new tech companies, which was what this area was to foster.”
Catalyzing The Switch
The area in question? That would be The Switch, downtown Birmingham’s emerging innovation district – where big ideas drive economic growth and strengthen the identity of the district. The Switch is the place for innovators and startups to go for information, resources and community.
“The name ‘The Switch’ has layered meaning for this district,” said David Fleming, REV President and CEO. “The blocks around Innovation Depot originally came to life as a railroad switchyard, and the oldest buildings still trace the curve of the former tracks. In a modern sense, the ‘switch’ is important to technological advancement.”
Considering its recent addition to the Downtown Birmingham Business Improvement District (BID), now is a great time to locate, launch and grow businesses in The Switch. Take it from the six tenants housed within the walls of Nextec.
Who’s headquartered in Nextec?
TQUILA AUTOMATION
Mission
Giving people and businesses their time back
About
Tquila Automation is an intelligent automation consultancy and service partner. “We help businesses to improve operational efficiency, boost employee satisfaction and better serve their customers,” said co-founder Richard Denton. “We do this by analyzing their processes, optimizing and then taking them through the implementation lifecycle – whether that’s robotic process automation, conversational AI or other intelligent solutions.”
Why The Switch?
“It’s amazing to be a part of the community, to create jobs and also connect with other companies here,” said Denton. “We were told a little bit about the background of Nextec, how it was originally a Chevrolet building and then later home to Sticks ‘N’ Stuff, a furniture store. Now the space is pivoting toward tech, reflecting the evolution that Birmingham is going through too.”
Learn more about Tquila Automation: https://tquila-automation.com/
For an introduction to intelligent automation: https://tquila-automation.com/2023/05/11/an-introduction-to-intelligent-automation/
STELLA SOURCE
Mission
Transforming the metal industry
About
Stella Source is the collaborative force behind the software making the metal-fabrication business more efficient. “We have software that will automate what’s currently a long, nuanced process. It delivers cutting times, how much material is needed, and real-time pricing on materials from different suppliers,” said Sean Hughes, President. “What’s critical is that we bring an understanding that the relationships between companies is the most important thing in transforming this process.”
Why The Switch?
“We started at Innovation Depot, and then ultimately outgrew the space there,” said Hughes. “But we found a ton of benefit from being a part of that community, and we’re excited to take it to the next level. Even here, we’ve already connected with Tquila Automation and I’m learning a bit from how they do what they do. So that’s a big draw, the relationships that we’ve been able to foster just from being in the same space as other innovators.”
Learn more about Stella Source: https://www.stellasource.com/
MAINSTREET FAMILY CARE
Mission
Helping customers feel better – fast
About
MainStreet Family Care is committed to helping people heal better and feel better quickly. From urgent care to illness care to preventative care to primary care, MainStreet Family Care works hard to ensure customers don’t have to leave town to take care of their health.
Learn more about MainStreet Family Care: https://www.mainstreetfamilycare.com/
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF GREATER BIRMINGHAM
Mission
To ignite passion for transformational change
Vision
A just, prosperous and unified region where every person is empowered to reach their full potential
About
Founded in 1959 by a group of generous, dedicated leaders, the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham is a grant making organization and strategic investor that leads and convenes diverse coalitions to overcome the region’s challenges. It is the largest foundation in the state, with assets of $290 million, and serves a five county region: Blount, St. Clair, Walker, Jefferson, and Shelby. “We like to think of ourselves as the community’s foundation,” said Christopher Nanni, President and CEO. “We serve various constituents and stakeholders, from the donors we connect to issues they are passionate about to the recipients in the nonprofit sector, and all the members of our community.”
Why The Switch?
“Where we’ve evolved our grant making is to take on more underlying issues in our community and to advance our community,” said Nanni. “We’re a foundation, but we want to be amongst the activity and the action with boots on the ground. With Nextec sitting at the nexus of the Civil Rights District and The Switch, just one block away from Innovation Depot, we couldn’t think of a more perfect place for us to be.”
Learn more about Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham: https://www.cfbham.org/
CHESTER’S CHICKEN
Mission
Delivering delicious food in surprising places
About
A fried chicken brand with a family recipe that’s been around since 1952, Chester’s Chicken is served primarily in convenience stores and some supermarkets. “When you have Chester’s it’s usually a little bit off the beaten path, said William Culpepper, VP of Marketing. “It’s a really fun market segment! That’s one of our core values, ‘Fried chicken is fun.’ We try to live by that, and at the end of the day we’re just making people happy with delicious food that they maybe never expected.”
Why The Switch?
“We want to constantly be innovating. We have a growth mindset, and that mentality just fits in well with what’s happening here,” said Culpepper. “We’re really excited about being a part of Nextec and the downtown community. Another thing we’re thrilled that this space offers us is our test kitchen. That’s going to enhance our ability to do great things with products, and it brings a whole new energy to what we’re doing.”
Learn more about Chester’s Chicken: https://www.chesterschicken.com/
ANALYTICAL AI
Mission
Making the world a better, safer place
About
Analytical AI develops integrated AI solutions to provide better-than-human threat detection and speed for on-person and property screening – their primary clients being U.S. government agencies like the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Customs and Border Protection (CPB), as well as the U.S. Army and Air Force. From airports to bus stations and beyond, their security solutions run at real-time (or near real-time) speeds to suit the environment in which they are used.
Why The Switch?
“This is The Switch district. We want to be tied into the tech ecosystem of Birmingham that gets us our next hire, and we want to still be involved with the Depot and its programs. This was a really well-done building, and we knew we could be here for the foreseeable future,” said Thomas Anthony, co-founder and CIO.
Learn more about Analytical AI: https://www.analyticalai.com/
Related News
-
12 anchor businesses in Woodlawn's historic commercial district
Filed Under: Business-Proving, Front Page, Small Business, Woodlawn
The historic Woodlawn commercial district has been home to some exciting openings in the last year. These new concepts represent the evolution of Woodlawn businesses, providing us a glimpse at what the future holds for this special place. However, as the saying goes, Rome wasn’t built in a day – and neither was Woodlawn! That’s why we want to tip our hats and raise a glass to some of the businesses that have paved the way for further development and growth in Woodlawn.
-
A cautionary tale: Birmingham's historic losses
Filed Under: Developer, Downtown Birmingham, Front Page, Historic Preservation
In case you haven’t heard, May is National Historic Preservation Month, as so celebrated for years by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the National Park Service. Here in Birmingham, a city rich in history and culture, this month-long celebration is not only a reminder to take stock of the historic treasures and charm we currently possess, but a time to mourn those we no longer have.
-
10 powerful examples of historic preservation in action
Filed Under: Downtown Birmingham, Filling Vacant Spaces, Front Page, Historic Preservation, Potential-Proving, Yaysayers
It’s easy to take for granted the historic gems we have here in Birmingham. Many beautiful, story-filled buildings dot the map of our city, their silhouettes adorning our skylines and their façades serving as the vibrant background to our everyday lives downtown. However, without attention, investment and a commitment by our community to prioritize these treasures, our historic buildings and the authentic character they give our city can disappear.