Birmingham Development News

[Sahs]

Hello,
I am new to the forums though I've been reading through the boards for a while. It's great to see that the Westin and entertainment district have finally broken ground. Let's hope everything goes smoothly.

Possible Powell Ave Steam Plant Redevelopment

http://www.bizjournals.com/birmingham/print-edition/2011/01/21/historic-steam-plant-eyed-for.html

I noticed there was an article in the Business Journal about possible redevelopment of the Powell Ave steam plant which sits adjacent to Railroad park. I think the article mentioned it could possibly be a community center. It's great to see the influence the park is having already.

Possible Improvements to Legion Field

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2011/01/birmingham_mayor_william_bell_11.html

Also, there was an article in the news today about possible improvements to Legion Field. I think it is a good short term solution as long as they are very efficient with any funds they put in. I recently went to the BBVA bowl and was disappointed at how outdated it seemed. They didn't even have replays. I also heard there were complaints about the concessions and service which seem like they could be easy fixes.

[bhamsly]

Originally Posted by Sahs

Hello,
I am new to the forums though I've been reading through the boards for a while. It's great to see that the Westin and entertainment district have finally broken ground. Let's hope everything goes smoothly.

Possible Powell Ave Steam Plant Redevelopment

http://www.bizjournals.com/birmingham/print-edition/2011/01/21/historic-steam-plant-eyed-for.html

I noticed there was an article in the Business Journal about possible redevelopment of the Powell Ave steam plant which sits adjacent to Railroad park. I think the article mentioned it could possibly be a community center. It's great to see the influence the park is having already.

Possible Improvements to Legion Field

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2011/01/birmingham_mayor_william_bell_11.html

Also, there was an article in the news today about possible improvements to Legion Field. I think it is a good short term solution as long as they are very efficient with any funds they put in. I recently went to the BBVA bowl and was disappointed at how outdated it seemed. They didn't even have replays. I also heard there were complaints about the concessions and service which seem like they could be easy fixes.

Well, as for the steam plant, from what I understand there is a contest for the best idea for that block. The city is even offering a cash prize for the best idea. I think that this is a great idea...Lord knows that people in Huntsville do not mind sending requests about new developments that they believe are appropriate for their city, and some that are a little ridiculous for that market.

[bystander1]

Wow, two new virgi... I mean, forumers. Welcome to the forums!

Well, bhamsly joined last year, so I guess you're not so new.

[*BRAVO*]

Originally Posted by bystander1

Wow, two new virgi... I mean, forumers. Welcome to the forums!

Well, bhamsly joined last year, so I guess you're not so new.

Hold on... I thought you only hung out in the Montgomery thread?

[*BRAVO*]

Originally Posted by bhamsly

Well, as for the steam plant, from what I understand there is a contest for the best idea for that block. The city is even offering a cash prize for the best idea. I think that this is a great idea...Lord knows that people in Huntsville do not mind sending requests about new developments that they believe are appropriate for their city, and some that are a little ridiculous for that market.

The block in the contest is south of Powell Avenue. The steam plant sits across the street on the north side. So these are separate projects.

[Sahs]

Correct. Here is a picture I found with the article showing the location. Actually, I am working on an idea that I am planning on submitting to the contest. I can't think of anything that would match all of their criteria, but I'll give it my best shot.

[bystander1]

Originally Posted by *BRAVO*

Hold on... I thought you only hung out in the Montgomery thread?

Ahh, if you would do a search of all of my posts you would see that I'm in all of the major threads on this forum; especially when it's something of importance for urban development. I don't comment in all of them all the time because a lot of what's being posted isn't worth commenting on...


You should feel privileged that I'm posting on this thread.

[bhamsly]

Originally Posted by Sahs

Correct. Here is a picture I found with the article showing the location. Actually, I am working on an idea that I am planning on submitting to the contest. I can't think of anything that would match all of their criteria, but I'll give it my best shot.

Oh ok, gotcha. I am thinking of a couple of things myself. I think lights need to be added to the steam plant to give downtown a different view at night...sort of a "new light."

[Tourian]

Originally Posted by *BRAVO*

They're bringing Fiat back to the US and we're getting a dealership on Grant's Mill Road.

Yeah, I think it is going to be the only one in Alabama initially. I wonder if Benchmark Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram is building a separate dedicated show room or if it will be attached to their current building - or just adding another sign with inside renovations.

[*BRAVO*]

Originally Posted by bystander1

Ahh, if you would do a search of all of my posts you would see that I'm in all of the major threads on this forum; especially when it's something of importance for urban development. I don't comment in all of them all the time because a lot of what's being posted isn't worth commenting on...

Uhh... I don't really know you well enough to go searching around in your posts.

Originally Posted by bystander1

You should feel privileged that I'm posting on this thread.

I'm all tingly

[*BRAVO*]

Originally Posted by Tourian

Yeah, I think it is going to be the only one in Alabama initially. I wonder if Benchmark Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram is building a separate dedicated show room or if it will be attached to their current building - or just adding another sign with inside renovations.

I think they're just adding another sign with inside renovations.

[Sahs]

Birmingham airport aims for green efficiency with design
by Michael Tomberlin
Published: Sunday, January 30, 2011, 7:00 AM
http://http://blog.al.com/businessnews/2011/01/birmingham_airport_aims_for_gr.html

The $200 million revamp of the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport is designed to make travel more efficient, but it also focuses on harvesting rainwater, lighting strategies and landscaping touches. [...]


The ticketing area and the rest of the terminal at Birmingham's airport will be get a fresh look as part of a project that was designed with energy savings in mind.

The design of the new terminal calls for a number of environmentally friendly and energy-efficient features.

--------------------------
It sounds like there are putting a lot of green touches into the airport expansion. The article quotes the cost as being
$203 million which is more than the $193 million I have seen in previous articles. From the sound of the article, I guess they should make a lot of the difference back through energy and water savings. Should be cool to see when it is done in 2014

[Sahs]

Birmingham Mayor William Bell sets sights on transit, light rail
by Joseph D. Bryant - The Birmingham News
Published: Sunday, January 30, 2011, 1:00 PM
http://http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2011/01/birmingham_mayor_william_bell_12.html

Birmingham Mayor William Bell said he will pursue a two-pronged approach to transit that involves lobbying for state funding for the area's existing bus system along with federal dollars for a new light-rail train service.
The state does not provide money for the constantly struggling Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority, and Bell said he'll work to change what a succession of other city leaders couldn't. [...]

------------------------
It is good to finally see that the mayor is pursuing a solution to the bus situation by trying to get state funding for the system. Also, he said that he will probably unveil his plan for light rail that he envisions will run East-West.
To me this alignment will take a lot of work to be successful though it is not impossible. It seems like the chicken and the egg analogy where there is not enough density to support the rail as things are now, but building the rail may encourage more medium to high density development. I have seen the light rail in Charlotte and was impressed by the spark in development adjacent to the rail line. It would be great to take advantage of the funding that is earmarked for light rail, but if this project takes off, Birmingham should immediately start coming up with a development plan for the corridor that follows Transit Oriented Development guidelines that many other cities have in place.

[urbanoptimist]

I too am glad to see the city looking into light rail options, but I can't imagine what route an East to West line would take...
I think it would be much more practical to first establish a North to South line running along 20th from Five Points South to the BJCC. This area already has a pretty high density and I imagine it would have a much higher ridership during more hours of the day/night.
I would love to see Birmingham establish a Transit Oriented Development District in the blocks surrounding the line, wherever it may be. This has really done wonders in Atlanta surrounding the new Beltline (you should check this project out if you haven't already), and the line hasn't even been laid yet. Furthermore, it would be nice to see parking garages put at either ends of the line so that commuters and tourists could park their cars in the garages and ride to their destinations on the line. I could imagine corporate sponsors whose headquarters are on the line supporting this, possibly in a monetary way (Regions, Alagasco, Alabama Power, etc.).

[philopdx]

Never going to happen. You would need to link light rail to at least ONE major suburb for it to make any sense, and NO suburban community in the Birmingham metro area will go for it. Ever. I'll put money on it.

Even here in Portland, the shining beacon of light rail transit, the same tired old arguments are trotted out during every expansion:
-Bring crime to the "nice" (read white) areas of town
-Using gu'mment money to subsidize its construction
-No density, no need
-Highways are cheaper and easier anyway - build for *growth*!!
-Nobody will use it
-Why go with a train what you can make do with a fancy bus?

I honestly think light rail is THE answer to 280 congestion, but good luck convincing Homewood, Mountain Brook, Cahaba Heights/Vestavia and the rest of the OTM communities to play ball.

[Sahs]

I think it would be much more practical to first establish a North to South line running along 20th from Five Points South to the BJCC. This area already has a pretty high density and I imagine it would have a much higher ridership during more hours of the day/night.

Actually, I remember seeing a BRT proposal for that route a while back. However, I haven't heard anything recently about it. Here's the link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0F-5c7Me3I&feature=related

I had heard of the Beltline, but have not seen anything concrete until now. Very cool.

Which areas of the Beltline have already started growing?

Never going to happen. You would need to link light rail to at least ONE major suburb for it to make any sense, and NO suburban community in the Birmingham metro area will go for it. Ever. I'll put money on it.

I agree that it is highly unlikely for the system to connect to the suburbs. However, Birmingham may have a shot some point in the future if they keep it within the city limits and build a park and ride stations near major highways. It wouldn't hurt to try to identify a route and maybe try to drive some development along that route.

Thinking short-term, though, I think the city needs to strongly focus on how to fix the bus system before considering other transit options. The light rail would have more support in the future if the city can prove that it can run an effective bus system.

[*BRAVO*]

I can see Bell pushing for development of Light Rail along the Highway 11 corridor from Bessemer to Roebuck and maybe up Hwy 75 to Huffman.
I don't really believe it will happen but I do see Bell pushing for that plan.
I mean, that corridor is the original path for urban sprawl.

I do not see Light Rail coming over the mountain for Philopdx's exact reasons.

[*BRAVO*]

Originally Posted by Sahs

Actually, I remember seeing a BRT proposal for that route a while back. However, I haven't heard anything recently about it. Here's the link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0F-5c7Me3I&feature=related

I can watch that video over and over again. Realistic or not.

[SpawnOfVulcan]

I think a rail corridor could be successful (as Bravo said) along US 11. That long valley is the original part of the sprawl. Plus, areas along that route generally have the demographic that would take a train into downtown.

But yea, I have to agree that there won't be a rail corridor going OTM anytime within probably the next century. There just isn't the density.

[Port_of_Bama]

I enjoy watching that video !