Ogden Deaton of Graham & Company was the broker for this deal of the year.

A longtime fixture of Birmingham’s industrial history is being given new life.

U-Haul said the Hardie-Tynes industrial site at 800 28th Street North will serve as “U-Haul Moving & Storage at Uptown,” which will include self-storage units as well as truck and trailer rental, professional hitch installation, moving supplies and more.

U-Haul bought Hardie-Tynes last year, and we honored it as one of our Commercial Real Estate Deals of the Year.

“Hardie-Tynes Co. manufactured for the U.S. Navy, and almost all the ships and submarines used in World War II featured their parts,” said Scott Fall, U-Haul Company of Central Alabama president. “We are excited to preserve and grow this building’s history. The bones of the building are strong, and it will be a recognizable facility proudly representing Birmingham for many years to come.”

The company said the renovated property will include 1,000 indoor and climate-controlled self storage units complete with security features. The U-Haul facility will hire approximately 20 employees, with a focus on hiring from nearby neighborhoods of the city of Birmingham.

According to BhamWiki, the Hardie-Tynes facility opened in the early 1900s, where in addition to defense work for the U.S. Navy, it also produced large industrial parts such as equipment for Alabama Power, the Tennessee Valley Authority, and several other product lines over the years. In the 1930s, the Hardie-Tynes facility manufactured valves and gates used in the Hoover Dam.

Local real estate experts have said the re-use of the historic property could serve as an important component of continued revitalization in the city, especially in the area east of the Red Mountain Expressway. U-Haul said the project is a part of its effort to support urban infill development and adaptive re-use as a more sustainable way of doing business.

“The whole downtown area is being revitalized,” Fall said. “Old office buildings are being turned into housing and the Central City neighborhood is booming. We are excited to be a part of this beautification effort.”

[Read article on bizjournals.com]