Leeds Announces 9th Street Expansion Project
Leeds Announces 9th Street Expansion Project:
The City of Leeds is excited to announce that TA Services, Inc. (TA) will begin construction in coming weeks on a new facility involving the old hardware store at 1524 9th Street NE.
The project aims to integrate the old with the new, capturing the charm of historic Leeds. The new build will be inclusive of salvaged brick from the original hardware building and restoring it to its original state. The rest of new building aims to integrate red brick, and pay homage to the past of the surrounding fabric by using scale and form to tie into its neighboring structures. The design aims to blend modern elements with traditional brick detailing. The integration of these elements will create a building that withstands time.
The plan for the new facility includes office and meeting space on the first floor and mezzanine levels. The building will also house conference space, a games room, break room, and open office area. The plan is meant to accommodate a growing TA team for now and the future. The new facility will increase foot traffic in downtown Leeds to support the local community.
“This is a project we have been working on with Mr. Schell for several months now and it is exciting to see it come to fruition,” shared Mayor David Miller. We have a developer who understands the significance of the historical value of this building and has chosen to go to the effort and the expense of incorporating it into his new plan. We are excited to see this building be given a second life!
“We are pleased to continue the expansion of our business with the addition of this new facility, which blends the new with the old. We believe that this investment and design will help set the tone for the continued development and revitalization of the community for years to come. The City of Leeds met TA with open arms about eleven years ago as we opened operations with a handful of key employees. We are now preparing a campus that will house over 250 people. We have been supported from the start by the Leeds community, governmental leaders, local business owners and several community associations focused on business development and revitalization efforts. We are grateful for this support and excited for TA Services’ future in Leeds, Alabama,” said Scott Schell, President & CEO of TA.
Christopher Architecture and Interiors has served as the architect and interior design on the project and Watson Bruhn Contractors has been awarded the bid for construction. The project aims to be complete by mid-2025.
A letter was distributed earlier in the week from TA Services to the Leeds Community:
Dear Residents, Neighbors, and Friends,
We are writing to share important news about a new development project that involves the Abercrombie-Walker Building at 1524 9th Street.
Before progress begins, we wanted to be very transparent and communicate to the Leeds community that we greatly respect the history that this building represents. We also want you to know that our respect is reflected in the design of the new building.
Our primary goal is to honor the building’s legacy while introducing new elements that will benefit our community. Although we will need to carefully remove the existing structure, we are committed to preserving as much of its historic character as possible. Our plan includes salvaging and reusing the original bricks and incorporating key architectural details into the new design.
The new facility is designed with great sensitivity to the building’s original aesthetics and the surrounding environment. We want to preserve the history and incorporate the look and feel of the city of Leeds in the updated structure. TA invests in this community because of its charm and history. Our intention is not to overshadow the building’s history but to enhance it in a way that aligns with contemporary needs and infrastructure.
We have included images of the current building, as well as a visualization of our proposed design, to help you see how we plan to respect and incorporate the building’s historic elements into the new facility. We hope these visuals will provide a clearer picture of how the new design will honor the past while embracing the future.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at 659.210.4990.
Respectfully,
TA Services
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