BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – The former

Thomas Jefferson Hotel

could begin its multimillion-dollar transformation into the Thomas Jefferson Tower as soon as April, the developer said today.

The historic 20-story building will be converted into 100 apartments on floors three through 20, with the ground floor being devoted to 7,000 square feet of restaurant and retail space and the second floor used for 28,000 square feet of ballroom and event space with perhaps additional fine dining space.

Brian Beshara with Talbot Realty Group in New Orleans is working with Reed Realty Advisors out of Los Angeles to develop the Thomas Jefferson Tower. Beshara said the project must win approval from the Birmingham Design Review Committee and obtain the necessary permits before it can start work, but if all goes well work could start in April.

Built in 1929, the Thomas Jefferson Hotel at 1631 Second Ave. North was known as one of the nation's finest luxury hotels.

Beshara was joined by Birmingham Mayor William Bell and Reed Realty Advisors’ Alex Dzyuba at an unveiling of the plans today.

“It’s a Birmingham icon,” Beshara said. “We’re excited to be a part of it.”

Beshara said the mast for tying down airships will be restored along with other historic elements of the building.

"When you walk through the building, you really get a glimpse of the history and the ornate style they used to have," Beshara said.

Bell said in an interview the multiple starts and stops the redevelopment of the building has experienced in the past should not be the case this time.

“This is the first developer I’ve seen with a real plan, real money and a real track record to pull off a project of this scale,” Bell said.

Beshara said this is the tallest building he has tackled as a developer but he is convinced the right elements are in place to make it happen.

“There are a lot of good things about Birmingham as a market,” Beshara said. “We are also impressed with the leadership at the city.”

Beshara said the project is among those in line to receive an allocation of the new state historic tax credit program when the next group of projects is given tax credit reservations in October.

David Fleming, chief executive of REV Birmingham, said the Thomas Jefferson Tower is a major development domino that will have a significant impact on the entire area.

“This is a major project with true transformative potential,” Fleming said in an interview. “It will bring out elements of the city’s past while making a substantial contribution to our city’s future.”

Beshara said the total investment of the redevelopment is not being revealed nor is the potential pricing for the apartments at this time.

The Thomas Jefferson Tower is on the agenda for Wednesday’s Birmingham Design Review Committee meeting.