BIRMINGHAM, AL | Urban Renaissance & Construction - Page 17

*BRAVO* · #**321** Posted **Feb 21, 2014, 2:08 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tourian

Where's the "Amad" Inn in relation to all that? Just a few blocks north, right?

The Amad is few blocks north and on the west side of I65

jslaughter · #**322** Posted **Feb 21, 2014, 2:26 AM**

http://www.bizjournals.com/birmingha...s-forward.html
I found another rendering of the homewood suites. Much different perspective.

LMich · #**323** Posted **Feb 21, 2014, 8:18 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimCity2000

yeah, the 4-6 story range seems to be common with these type of developments right now, probably because developers are still able to acquire fairly large footprints/blocks around the park. if this area were denser, we'd see more height (look at the highland ave development, for example).

I'm not sure about regulations in Alabama, but I know up here, projects usually don't get above four floors in my city, at the moment, because it starts to trigger safety regulations, such are requirements for a certain number elevators, etc. So, to cut costs, developers try to build on large and/or long plots of land unless demand gets to the point of where the rents are high enough to speed up the return on investment (ROI).

TimCity2000 · #**324** Posted **Feb 21, 2014, 10:21 PM**

good point... now that you mention it, there is a 75' height that triggers "high rise building" status in the eyes of the building code. these 6 story buildings are probably just under that.

this has an effect on type of construction, means of egress, etc.

TimCity2000 · #**325** Posted **Feb 21, 2014, 10:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jslaughter

http://www.bizjournals.com/birmingha...s-forward.html
I found another rendering of the homewood suites. Much different perspective.

the image isn't showing up, but the article you linked is from 2012... i think it's not the most current rendering.

SpawnOfVulcan · #**326** Posted **Feb 25, 2014, 4:48 AM**

Construction on the first phase of the Northern Beltline began today. The 1.34 mile segment between Alabama 79 and 75 in northern JeffCo is expected to be complete by 2016. The entire project is expected to take 21 years.

From NBC13

I've always been iffy about if I support this project or not.

Pros:
1) Immediate shot in the arm for the region via construction jobs
2) Opens up new land for development
3) Encourages spread of economic activity to parts of the region hit hard by the current/impending demise of the US coal industry
4) Will improve air quality in the short term following the completion of the
road
5) Dramatically cuts travel time between East-Central AL (which is somewhat disadvantaged economically) and import shipping ports along the Gulf and Great Lakes
6) Allows Tuscaloosans to stay as far away from Auburn as possible while driving to areas north of Birmingham

Cons:
1) Encourages sprawl
2) Threatens sensitive parts of the Black Warrior watershed
3a) Enormous cost (almost completely funded by the federal government)
3b) Money could better be used to fund a comprehensive transit network that covers over half the metro area's population. (however, since this is a road, it's unlikely that the region would be able to obtain such funding from the fedgov for the purpose of constructing a mass transit network; reason: the N. Beltline is part of the Appalachian Development Highway System, making it eligible for massive amounts of funding)
4) You're building a massive (52 miles) highway when it's highly unlikely an autocentric culture can continue to be viable...

atlantaguy · #**327** Posted **Feb 25, 2014, 5:23 AM**

Wow, this is huge tascalisa!

This reminds me of the huge new outerbelt on the Southside of Nashville. To put this in perspective, the entire 285 loop around Atlanta is 69 miles.

I'm very torn on this. It could be very good in some ways, and very bad in others.

SpawnOfVulcan · #**328** Posted **Feb 25, 2014, 5:59 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by atlantaguy

Wow, this is huge tascalisa!

This reminds me of the huge new outerbelt on the Southside of Nashville. To put this in perspective, the entire 285 loop around Atlanta is 69 miles.

I'm very torn on this. It could be very good in some ways, and very bad in others.

I agree, ATLg. The economic benefit will be huge. However, the economic outlook for cities like Atlanta (whose success is built upon controlled access highways) is still quite blurry. Atlanta has the benefit of a legit rapid transit system, Birmingham does not. If autocentric infrastructure collapses as a legitimate means of facilitating economic activity, at least Atlanta has some bones to build on in the way of mass transit.

TimCity2000 · #**329** Posted **Feb 25, 2014, 2:48 PM**

anyone know why it doesn't complete the 459 loop? in other words, why does it end so far away from the 459/59 junction?

*BRAVO* · #**330** Posted **Feb 25, 2014, 5:00 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimCity2000

anyone know why it doesn't complete the 459 loop? in other words, why does it end so far away from the 459/59 junction?

Huffman

Ending at the 459/59 junction would put it straight through Huffman and it is relatively dense area thus driving up the cost of land purchases. Also, I believe the city of Birmingham made it quite clear they did not approve of the loop. I believe ALDOT made a concerted effort to avoid Birmingham's well-established neighborhoods.

*BRAVO* · #**331** Posted **Feb 25, 2014, 5:09 PM**

This is all about economic development. I believe north Jefferson County and southeastern Blount County are set to boom with this development. I grew up in southeastern Blount County and I know Hwy 75 and 79 greatly limit the potential of this area. Yeah, it's going to be sprawl but I'm hoping it's done appropriately.

Tourian · #**332** Posted **Feb 25, 2014, 8:43 PM**

I agree. They want that section to be done in under 10 years. That section has most of the easiest to develop land so I see big progress for places like Pinson, Clay and Trussville.

SpawnOfVulcan · #**333** Posted **Feb 27, 2014, 1:36 AM**

I 22/I 65 interchange progress from AL.com

jslaughter · #**334** Posted **Mar 1, 2014, 6:54 PM**

Although i do like the new sign. I really hope this pepsi sign is a temporary fix. I hope they change it to a moving billboard.

Bamablazer · #**335** Posted **Mar 1, 2014, 7:48 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jslaughter

Although i do like the new sign. I really hope this pepsi sign is a temporary fix. I hope they change it to a moving billboard.

I would like even better if it were sitting atop the Pepsi World Headquarters here in Downtown Birmingham!!!

SpawnOfVulcan · #**336** Posted **Mar 2, 2014, 3:47 AM**

I'm hoping that Harbert is hoping to install a sleek LED board atop Two North Twentieth at some point. I realize that the cost is pretty big, but I think it would be made up reasonable quickly. It would be both eye-catching and an improvement on the old sign/Pepsi encapsulation.

Bamablazer · #**337** Posted **Mar 7, 2014, 10:11 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimCity2000

Birmingham's $30 million intermodal station set to start construction

didn't realize this one was actually 2 buildings... one block apart.

Ground breaking ceremony Friday March 7, 2014 at 2 p.m.

LMich · #**338** Posted **Mar 7, 2014, 2:00 PM**

Wow, this was more than I expected. The train station, in particular, is pretty grand-looking.

TimCity2000 · #**339** Posted **Mar 7, 2014, 9:00 PM**

also, LIV Parkside FINALLY broke ground last week as well... about 2 blocks south of this facing Railroad Park

the nearby Rotary Trail also seems to finally be seeing more action (there had been some equipment on site, but no real movement until recently...)

SpawnOfVulcan · #**340** Posted **Mar 10, 2014, 4:16 AM**

Progress on the trail!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Source: atomic-man