It's right there in our mission.
REV creates vibrant commercial districts.
Why? Because vibrant business districts are hubs of cultural commerce. They create a cool factor that enhances our lives and helps attract and retain talent and business to our region.
REV focuses our work in two main areas within the city of Birmingham.
Woodlawn
REV’s work in Woodlawn is designed to propel equitable entrepreneurship. By working closely with community facilitators and volunteer groups, REV is empowering and supporting engaged residents on projects like facade improvements in the Woodlawn business district that reduce blight and improve design.
Since 2014, Woodlawn’s 55th Place has been the site of Woodlawn Street Market, an event that creates a platform for budding entrepreneurs and that brings new audiences to Woodlawn to experience its renaissance.
Oh — also, REV’s office is in Woodlawn; come see us at SocialVenture!
Downtown
With lots of input from downtown Birmingham stakeholders, REV is driving vibrancy in Downtown with a refreshed CAP Clean & Safe program, enhanced design of public spaces, the filling of vacant spaces and coordination of downtown branding.
REV manages the CAP program, whose ambassadors are downtown for you to keep things clean and safe. They help improve your downtown experience, from picking up litter from your sidewalks to helping you find parking or the perfect place to eat.
REV consults with developers who are adaptively reusing downtown’s buildings, as well as many small business owners who ultimately fill vacant spaces (both in the City Center and in neighborhood business districts). Our team provides context for specific districts and connects people with the resources and incentives they need to realize their dreams.
News
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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.
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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.
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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.
How do we do place-based revitalization?
At the forefront of all of our place-based work is this core value: community leads, design feeds. That means we appreciate that each district is unique, with entirely different personalities, needs and definitions of impact. We examine every little piece of a community and work with stakeholders from business owners to neighborhood associations to government (and many more) to agree on a vision and design strategies that fuel it.
Based on the National Main Street Center’s best practices, REV’s place-based approach to revitalization in Birmingham can be applied differently based on what communities need. Here’s our recipe for creating for downtowns with a cool factor.
WHY WE WORK IN THESE DISTRICTS
REV’s approach works best in districts that have what we call the three P’s: Place, Partners & Payers. Geographies where REV works must have:
- A historic commercial fabric with a spark to build around;
- Willing community partners who are ready to roll up their sleeves;
- Resources to sustain the work – whether government partners, foundation grant funding or property owners banding together to form a business improvement district (BID).
Would you like your community to work with REV?
Send us a message and we’ll talk strategies.