255 replies to this topic

[Blazer85]

Northern Metro BHM:

1,000 acres that Gardendale recently annexed will become:

-216 acres of R-G zoning garden homes
-335.5 acres of R-2 single family (homes)
-44 acres R-4 zoning apartments
-290.50 acres institutional
-92 acres C-2 commercial


*The Inst-1,C-2 and R-4 will be along I-65.  The R-2 borders Shady Grove and along a proposed road from Shady Grove to the West of I-65.

[Blazer85]

Unanimous vote gives money for Sloss center

Do not post copyrighted material, especially without comment

For the rest of the story, click here:  http://www.al.com/ne...4890.xml&coll=2

Edited by Spartan, 21 July 2005 - 05:14 PM.

[Blazer85]

Long-vacant church in the Lakeview District to be converted to condos.  

[Blazer85]

In theory, this could probably have its own thread, but I'll just post it here for now.  Here's Birmingham's Northern beltline (northern half has yet to be built but work is beginning in the area highlighted by the pink/purple circle).

[ironchapman]

^ So, this would become pretty much like Bham's version of I-285, then?

It seems like it could work.

Edited by ironchapman, 22 July 2005 - 07:08 PM.

[Blazer85]

^ Pretty much... it's not a matter of if though.  It is being built.  The only section that remains purely a proposal right now is a section extending the east end of the Northern Beltline down to I-20.  The Northern Beltline will likely carry the name I-459 (just like the southern half of the beltline), but since it doesnt line up to make an exact loop, it MAY not carry the I-459 name.  I-459 is actually used more by local people than it is passers-through.  Essentially, the Northern Beltline will give the northern suburbs more connectivity and more visibility.  The Northern Beltline is expected to be as much an economic development project as it is a transportation project.  It is expected to create a similar boom in the northern suburbs as what was seen in the southern suburbs after I-459 was built.  I-22 will also encourage development in the north and northwestern areas of Jefferson Co.

[Southron]

I really, really despise this northern beltline abomination.  The last thing that Birmingham needs is another major incentive to increase suburban sprawl.  The suburbs have been subsidized enough, it's time to focus on the urban core and real needs like transit.  This thing will increase the traffic problem over time and draw more people out of the city.

[Blazer85]

^ Dont really agree.  Birmingham DOES need this to make downtown traffic a little more manageable for the average driver.  Do you have ANY idea the problems we have when one of the bridges at malfunction junction is knocked out (as has happened twice in the past few years)?  The Northern Beltline gives all kinds of relief to problems at malfunction junction in general.  

I think the Northern Beltline will act a bit like a magnet by drawing alot of the sprawl back up from the southern suburbs back up through downtown and to the northern suburbs.  I'd rather Birmingham be more balanced out between north and south rather than continuing to grow southward and southward.  Something needs to stop the southward sprawl, and the northern beltline is part of the solution to that problem.  Birmingham can still continue to focus on the urban core, but let's not think that this is pulling resources from another area.  This has been on drawing board a long time and it has federal dollars behind it... not local.  It is only fair to the northern suburbs and northern and western reaches of downtown Birmingham for the Northern Beltline to be built.  

I dont think it's wise to let the population continue southward further and further.  This is as much about Jefferson County as a whole as it is about downtown Birmingham.  It is an economic development tool.  I would rather our suburban population be centered all around the city... not like an unbalanced wheel with all of our suburban population to the south of the city.  BTW, the Northern Beltline will likely draw more people from southern suburbs than it will draw from downtown residents.  I'm all for urban revitalization and building up the urban core, but this is very good for Birmingham and Jefferson County overall.  I've heard little to no criticism from Birmingham city leaders.  But it doesnt matter whether it should or shouldnt happen, because it's already been decided that it will be built.

Edited by Blazer85, 23 July 2005 - 12:30 PM.

[Blazer85]

A couple more projects in Metro BHM:

Ross Bridge Resort and Spa- $65-million, 4-star luxury resort next to Oxmoor Valley Robert Trent Jones Golf Course in the Hoover area(Bruno's Memorial Classic moving from Greystone to Ross Bridge).  As part of the development, there will also be a resort town of up to 2,400 residents and over 1,000,000sqft of retail and commercial space.


Bass Pro Shop -$75-million Bass Pro Shop is planned for the Leeds area.  The 108 acre mixed-use development will include an outdoor nature park and a 250-unit hotel.  

Colonial Pinnacle at Tutwiler Farms -$70-million retail development of nearly 500,000sqft in the Trussville area.   Expected completion is October of 2006.  

Colonial Promenade at Alabaster -$75-million retail development of 800,000sqft in the Alabaster area.  Expected completion is October of 2005.  

Major Metro BHM Residential Projects

Rank Residential Development Build-Out Units County
1 Liberty Park 2,000 Jefferson
2 Highland Lakes 1,858 Shelby
3 Riverwoods 1,700 Shelby
4 Hillsboro 1,600 Shelby
5 Old Cahaba 1,600 Shelby
6 Carrington 1,500 Jefferson
7 Grands View 1,400 Shelby
8 Lake Cyrus 1,100 Jefferson
9 Ross Bridge* 1,178 Jefferson
10 Brocks Gap 1,080 Jefferson
11 Weatherly 1,000 Shelby
12 Brook Highlands 961 Shelby
13 Chapel Hills 900 Jefferson
14 Deerfoot 870 Jefferson
15 Waterford 800 Shelby
16 Forest Lakes 675 Shelby
17 The Preserve 650 Jefferson
18 Furnace Creek 650 Tusc / Jeff
19 Leston Farms 650 Jefferson
20 Narrows 600 Shelby
21 Forest Parks 572 Shelby
22 Lake Forest 500 Shelby
23 Mt. Laurel 500 Shelby
24 Fox Hollow 500 Saint Clair
25 Grand River 400 Jefferson
26 Longmeadow 400 Jefferson

Edited by Blazer85, 23 July 2005 - 01:09 PM.

[vulcan/elektra]

More downtown propaganda? :-)

During the Implementation Now campaign
at the end of 2004, Co-chairs
Carol Garrison, Dudley Reynolds and
Tom Hamby encouraged investor participation
in order to “accelerate
the pace of progress in
the City Center.” More
than 114 companies
answered the call by
pledging 2.6 million
dollars over five years,
from 2005-2009. The
City of Birmingham
and Jefferson County
contributed approximately
the same for
the first year.
Now, ONB is proud
to announce that
development in the
Birmingham City
Center, is indeed,
moving at an accelerated
pace. ONB
President Michael
Calvert puts it more
succinctly. “We’re on a
roll” he says.
Here’s a summary of major projects that have advanced
over the last several months:
The City Federal Building has been purchased
by Atlanta-based Synergy real estate. Deposits
have been taken on more than 85% of the 90-
plus condominium units the developer plans to
build.
The City of Birmingham has appropriated $1.5
million of the $3 million need to purchase the
Sears Building for renovation as a business
incubator. The Entrepreneurial Center is raising
an additional $1.5 million to complete the
purchase.
The Cabana Hotel is under contract to a
California developer which plans to renovate
the landmark property into approximately 65
condominium units. The developer has
unveiled four floor plans ranging in prices from
$225,000 - $400,000.
The Pizitz Building is under contract to Sloss
Real Estate. Plans have been announced to
renovate the historic old department store for
about 100 condominiums with retail and
restaurant space on the ground floor.
Ground has been broken on the Bristol
Southside project on the site of the former
Tom Williams Buick site on 4th Ave N. for
156 condominium units.
Dozens of smaller loft apartment and condominium
projects are also going up. In all, more
than 1,000 residential units are now under construction
or committed. Almost all of these
projects continue to pre-sell or pre-lease prior
to opening. ONB estimates the investment
value of the goal of 2,500 units by 2009 to be
in excess of 375,000,000.
The Birmingham News has broken ground on
a new $25 million headquarters at the corner
of 4th Ave N and 22rd St.
Plans for the Railroad Park on 1st Ave S
between 14th and 18th Streets continues to
advance under the direction of Renee Kemp-
Rotan of the Mayor’s Office. A master plan
for the park is expected to be completed on
schedule in September.
ONB has closed six City and County float
loans with an aggregate value of almost $4.7
million.
The City of Birmingham has budgeted the first
of five $200,000 installments pledged to help
fund renovation of the historic Lyric Theatre.
The What’s Cooking Downtown event
designed to attract more restaurants to the City
Center drew more than 325 people for the
luncheon portion and 200 for a half-day workshop.
Interest is high both among those who
may open restaurants downtown and those
that would eat in them.
The inaugural Park Place Market in Linn Park
attracted hundreds of City Center workers
who purchased fresh fruit and vegetables and
other sundries from 25 vendors.

[Blazer85]

Bayer, the developer of The Summit lifestyle center, has announced plans for a 200-300 unit luxury hotel in the phase of the project.  They have indicated that there may even be room for an additional hotel.  The luxury hotel planned for phase IV is expected to be completed by 2007.   No word yet on the number of floors.

[Blazer85]

Here's a rendering of the Cabana... soon to be Leer Tower.  It's not great, but it gives you an idea.  There are some that are fighting the name as well as the proposed removal of the mooring mast.

[Southron]

Blazer, I realize that the northern beltline is a done deal and has been for a while.  I-459 drove most of the massive southward movement from the mid-80s onward, and the northern beltline will likely have the same impact.  I doubt it will have much impact on the southern sprawl area, it will likely finish off Pinson, Center Point, Hueytown and such areas.  The older areas, Wylam, Ensley, Woodlawn etc. will stay dead for years to come and the dead zone will extend to the older auto suburbs like Center Point.

Birmingham has sprawled further than much larger Boston already, and it will only get worse.  The other 3 major cities in AL are on the same path.  ALDOT doesn't do transit.

[Southron]

Glad to see the Cabana is set for renovation.  Why would they can the dirigible mooring mast?  That's a big part of what makes the building interesting.

[Blazer85]

ExpatBaman, on Jul 24 2005, 10:40 PM, said:

Glad to see the Cabana is set for renovation.  Why would they can the dirigible mooring mast?  That's a big part of what makes the building interesting.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I dont know... I think they didnt understand the history of it or much about it.  Hopefully after hearing about it and its historic value, they'll keep it.

[Blazer85]

ExpatBaman, on Jul 24 2005, 10:38 PM, said:

Blazer, I realize that the northern beltline is a done deal and has been for a while.  I-459 drove most of the massive southward movement from the mid-80s onward, and the northern beltline will likely have the same impact.  I doubt it will have much impact on the southern sprawl area, it will likely finish off Pinson, Center Point, Hueytown and such areas.  The older areas, Wylam, Ensley, Woodlawn etc. will stay dead for years to come and the dead zone will extend to the older auto suburbs like Center Point.

Birmingham has sprawled further than much larger Boston already, and it will only get worse.  The other 3 major cities in AL are on the same path.  ALDOT doesn't do transit.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I disagree.  I know MANY people that considered relocating to northern suburbs, but instead opted to move to southern suburbs because property values are higher, more retail options, and better transit among other things.  I really think the northern beltline will pull more from southern suburbs than downtown residents.  People in the southern suburbs are getting tired of the traffic nightmares, but some are determined not to live downtown, so they'll move to the quieter, smaller northern suburbs in hopes of getting in on the ground floor.  You'll always have your folks that prefer the suburbs.  IMO, you might as well have a more balanced suburban population around the perimeter of your city.  Not only this, but the more development north of Birmingham, the better we'll be taking advantage of all the open, undeveloped land in Northern Jefferson Co.  I never said the northern beltline would be great for the city of Birmingham persay, but it IS good for Jefferson Co. and Metro BHM overall.

[Blazer85]

Fairly minor news here, but it is in Metro BHM and I am the self-appointed authority on the northern suburbs of BHM (particularly Gardendale).  

Construction is getting ready to begin on a Microtel Inn near the Walmart SuperCenter in Gardendale.  Fairly significant for the city of Gardendale because it will be just the city's 2nd motel/hotel (the other being a Best Western).  There are many hotels in BHM and southward, but not terribly many on the north side of the metro area.  Number of units or floors is unknown at this time.  



In other Gardendale news, a new Jack's [hamburger franchise for those that dont know] will open tomorrow (July 26th) at the Mt. Olive Rd. exit off of I-65.

Edited by Blazer85, 25 July 2005 - 08:42 PM.

[RiversideGator]

Can anyone post a current photo of the Cabana with mooring device?  I dont recall this from my years in Bham.

[Blazer85]

Here is how the Cabana stands in its current state.  The C at the top sort of covers part of the mooring mast.




Here is what it looked like with the full mooring mast back in its glory days and when it was known as the Thomas Jefferson.

[Blazer85]

Rumor has it that Birmingham has now given the FAA a tower proposal of about 675-700ft (excluding spire height).  It is expected to be a mixed-use facility (hotel, office, boutique, etc) and an expected completion date of 2007.