Click image to enlarge. Quinlan Castle, located in Birmingham's Five Points South neighborhood, was constructed in 1927 to meet the demand for middle-income housing in a city that was experiencing unprecedented growth. The name of the seventy-two-unit apartment complex was later changed to the Royal Arms Apartments, but most people still refer to it simply as " the castle." With its turrets, stone construction, battlemented parapets, and open courtyard, Quinlan Castle is a fine and whimsical example of Romantic Revival architecture, a movement that glorified exotic and historical architectural styles. Other well-known examples of Romantic Revival include the Florentine Building, also in Birmingham, and the famous Fox Theatre in Atlanta.
During the seventy-one years Quinlan Castle has contributed to the Birmingham skyline, the building has undergone several renovations. It is currently occupied; however, forces already afoot are attempting to storm the castle's keep. Owned by the City of Birmingham, the building has a facade easement in place that was donated to the Alabama Historical Commission by a previous owner in 1991. (The owner received a substantial tax credit for making this contribution to the state.) Southern Research Institute in Birmingham has expressed interest in buying the Quinlan Castle property (but not the building) to expand its facilities. The Alabama Historical Commission has notified the City of Birmingham that AHC will sue the city if Birmingham violates the easement agreement and razes the building. Stand by.
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