About Us

The Urban Impact Story

From about 1900 to 1960, the 4th Avenue Area served as the business, social and cultural center of Birmingham’s Black community and has been the site of nearly every major historical and cultural development in it. However, the area began to fall into decline during the late ’50s and ’60s, particularly after integration allowed Black shoppers to go to majority-owned stores.

During the late ’70s and early ’80s, several business persons and Birmingham City officials gathered in an effort to formulate a comprehensive funding proposal to revitalize the district. This proposal was primarily geared toward the city contracting a non-profit organization to assist in the revitalization of a minority business district and provide additional expertise needed in the uphill drive to refurbish a vital part of Birmingham’s history and economy.

A study of the 4th Avenue Area by Owens & Woods Partnership, an architecture firm, determined that they needed a mechanism to encourage involvement and share information among the business owners, merchants and residents in the area of the proposed revitalization plans for the business district. Consequently, the city — under the administration of Richard Arrington, Jr., Birmingham’s first Black mayor, contracted Urban Impact, Inc., in July 1980  to ensure improved business opportunities for socially and economically disadvantaged business persons and residents in the 4th Avenue Business District. This District boundaries are defined as being within the area from the west side of 18th Street to 15th Street North and the north side of 2nd Avenue to 8th Avenue North.

Since that time, Urban Impact, Inc., has tackled this monumental undertaking and has accomplished many of its goals and objectives. Urban Impact’s staff has determined that  the restoration of the commercial business district is a must if Birmingham’s economy is to become strong and viable for all its citizens. If this task is to be accomplished, there must be cooperation among governmental, business and community groups.

Therefore, Urban Impact, Inc. works as a catalyst to ensure that it works with other groups in the city and around the country to ensure the economic, social and cultural viability of the 4th Avenue Business District.