Montgomery’s historic Bell Building getting new role with 80 housing units

MONTGOMERY, Alabama — A building that has stood out in Montgomery for many years is getting a new role.

Mayor Todd Strange says an Indiana couple has purchased the Bell Building in downtown Montgomery. The 187-foot-tall office building was constructed in 1907 by businessman Newton Bell, and it was the tallest building in downtown for years.

Strange told WSFA-TV (http://bit.ly/1s6qSii ) that the cost of the building was more than $3 million. He says the new owners plan retail on the bottom floors and about 80 residential units on the upper floors.

The building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.

Strange said downtown Montgomery currently has about 700 housing units but there is demand for more.

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