Today’s columnist is Michael Sznajderman.
It’s a new year, a time when folks reflect on the past and ponder what’s ahead.
2025 marks 25 years I’ve lived in the Birmingham area. So much has happened in our region over the past quarter-century – some good, some not so much.
With this in mind, I present – in no particular order – 25 thoughts for 2025 about our greater Birmingham community, and beyond. Let the constructive criticism and commentary begin!
1. Jefferson County Park System
We’ve taken a big step toward creating a true, Jefferson County park system with the merger of Red Mountain Park, Ruffner Mountain and Turkey Creek Nature Preserve under the new Jefferson County Greenways. Meanwhile, Birmingham Park and Recreation leaders have been talking about launching a master plan process to examine the city’s 100-plus public parks to determine whether this expansive system is efficiently meeting community needs. It’s a great idea.
2. Local colleges and universities
The demise of Birmingham-Southern College (BSC) was a tragedy, but we can take pride in our region’s vibrant institutions of higher learning – including UAB, Samford University, Miles College, Jefferson State and Lawson State community colleges. Here’s hoping we can identify a dynamic new mission for the shuttered BSC campus that benefits our community and befits the college’s noble legacy.
3. Historic structures
Two historic structures bearing the name of Birmingham’s first mayor, James Powell – the old Powell School building and the Powell Avenue Steam Plant – sit empty in our city center. Not to mention, the old Liberty National Building. Surely some great minds can identify ways to bring them back to useful life.
4. Municipal elections
Speaking of mayors, Birmingham holds its municipal election later this year. Incumbent Mayor Randall Woodfin has announced he plans to run, and at least one other local leader has announced plans to seek the office. Can we encourage all mayoral candidates to engage in a vigorous but civil discussion on where the city needs to go, and refrain from personal attacks? Same goes for all City Council candidates.
5. Homicides
Notwithstanding the horrific act of terror in New Orleans on New Year’s morning, the city once known as the “Murder Capital of America” dramatically reduced its number of homicides in 2024. So have Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Memphis and Baltimore, among other large U.S. cities. Birmingham, in contrast, recorded its worst-ever year for homicides in 2024. Can we learn some lessons from these other cities’ successes to help address violence here?
6. Jewish-style deli
Birmingham’s restaurant scene is one of its strongest calling cards. But where oh where has our Jewish-style deli gone? It’s a flavor favorite this city offered for decades. Perhaps the Pihakis Restaurant Group or another of our many enterprising chefs can help fill this culinary hole?
7. Highlands Bar & Grill
Speaking of Birmingham restaurants, when will Frank and Pardis Stitt reopen the beloved Highlands Bar & Grill?
8. Missing or broken caps
Speaking of holes, Birmingham has a chronic problem with missing or broken caps on our stormwater drains. The city has replaced some with new concrete caps, which are often quickly cracked or snapped in half by cars or trucks that run over them. Is there a brilliant engineer in the house who can take this on and fix this problem for good?
9. Homelessness
So many factors contribute to our region’s homelessness – a problem affecting so many cities. For years, concerned residents, faith-based and nonprofit groups in Birmingham have worked to address it. Now, the city has engaged a California-based organization, Urban Alchemy, to assist and help move more of Birmingham’s unhoused into permanent homes. Here’s hoping they succeed.
10. Major sporting events
I’m firmly in the camp that believes the World Games was a huge positive for Birmingham, drawing thousands of athletes and visitors from across the globe – people who otherwise would never have come to our wonderful city. It also helped pave the way for other, major sporting events to choose Birmingham. Now, we have a chance to shine again, when first responder-athletes from more than 70 countries and their fans converge here in June for the World Police and Fire Games. We showed the world our warmth and hospitality during the World Games. Can we do it again?
11. Unique and diverse event venues
With so many unique and diverse event venues available across our region, do we really need Boutwell Auditorium anymore? Yes, it’s historic – sort of – but could that prime piece of real estate on Linn Park be better utilized? Perhaps for a long-discussed expansion of the Birmingham Museum of Art, which can display only a fraction of its remarkable collections? Or, could it be the site of a new Birmingham History Center? Yes, Vulcan Park and Museum and Sloss Furnaces showcase portions of our city’s story, as does the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, but none in a comprehensive way.
12. Oak Mountain Amphitheatre
Speaking of major venues, it appears likely that Oak Mountain Amphitheatre may soon go the way of Birmingham’s Terminal Station. Any grand ideas how that property should be redeveloped to benefit our region?
13. Two-way streets downtown
For years, planners have advocated a return to two-way streets in downtown. A sizable federal grant will help fund the conversion of Fourth Avenue North, the main thoroughfare in the city’s historic Black business district, to two-way. Which downtown street should be next?
14. 21st Street Viaduct
Speaking of downtown streets, is it time to dismantle the 21st Street Viaduct, also known as the Rainbow Viaduct? The aging bridge has been closed to traffic for three years for safety reasons. REV Birmingham has tried to beautify the closed span as a pedestrian plaza, with less-than-stellar results. Could removing it open up areas for thoughtful redevelopment on both sides of the railroad – between Morris Avenue and on the north side and Powell Avenue on the south? Downtown needs more housing and greater density. Could this be a catalyst for lifting the city center to the next level?
15. First Avenue North Viaduct
Speaking of viaducts, the First Avenue North viaduct (the first one built in Birmingham, replaced in 1950 with the present structure) is a neglected diamond. It rises from 25th to 35th Street, offering a brilliant view of Sloss Furnaces. With modest modifications, it could continue to accommodate automobile traffic while also functioning as a delightful “high line” for walkers and bicyclists. Connect it to both ends of Rotary Trail and we create a downtown trail-loop that can attract both locals and visitors. It would jibe nicely with the more ambitious, 36-mile trail loop envisioned by the nonprofit Freshwater Land Trust – a project that, under the best projections, is at least a decade away.
16. Entertainment districts
Not too far from the First Avenue Viaduct are two of the city’s hottest entertainment spots, Lakeview and Avondale. Recently, City Action Partnership or CAP, long an asset to downtown, has expanded services to Five Points South, providing safety patrols, litter and graffiti cleanup, and stranded motorist assistance. Should CAP also expand to Lakeview and Avondale? With our police force stretched thin, many locals and visitors would welcome the added security and reassurance CAP could provide.
17. Avondale
Speaking of Avondale, it’s been close to a decade since a streetscape improvement plan was greenlighted for 41st Street, Avondale’s main drag. Will we finally see earth move on this project in 2025?
18. Major developments
Looking to the west and north of downtown, a new family fun center is coming to the Birmingham Crossplex, and a major redevelopment plan promises to help revive the Smithfield-College Hills-Graymont area. The new Coca-Cola Amphitheater, north of the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex, also promises to spur additional growth in Norwood, Druid Hills and Fountain Heights. But so many other city neighborhoods, from Pratt City to Ensley, East Lake to Huffman also need some love. How do we extend growth and redevelopment plans to more areas farther from the city center?
19. Cooper Green Mercy Health
Birmingham has added another jewel to its shiny necklace of world-class health facilities with the opening of the $120 million Cooper Green Mercy Health outpatient clinic. Jefferson County residents are blessed to have access to top-notch medical care, with Cooper Green focused on serving people with limited incomes. Unfortunately, many rural areas of Alabama have lost their hospitals, and residents in those counties must travel long distances for emergency, obstetric and pediatric care, let alone to see other specialty physicians. Because these areas lack adequate healthcare access, they also struggle to attract industry and jobs. Could this be the year Gov. Kay Ivey and state policymakers realize how many poor Alabamians are suffering because of their refusal to expand Medicaid?
20. A more walkable city
Many cities in metro Birmingham are making their town centers more vibrant and walkable. Longtime shining examples include Homewood, Mountain Brook and Montevallo, but places like Hoover, Trussville and Alabaster are also intent on creating walkable village centers that can draw visitors with food and retail, health care facilities, green spaces, entertainment and other options. Birmingham, too, is working to improve walkability through its Complete Streets initiative. It’s a welcome trend.
21. Northern Beltline
On the other hand, although decades of research confirm that widening highways only adds more traffic to clogged roads, some Birmingham-area leaders seem intent on doing just that, including spending billions to construct a whole new highway, the Northern Beltline, through a predominantly rural area of Jefferson County that contains environmentally sensitive lands. It’s an expensive and outdated idea, especially when more folks are commuting less because of the rise of remote work.
22. Cool Green Trees
Preliminary figures indicate 2024 was the warmest year in modern record-keeping. Climate change is a global phenomenon that requires local action, and one of the more innovative efforts taking place in our region is Cool Green Trees, which is planting trees in Birmingham’s underserved urban neighborhoods where the heat-island effect during our broiling summers has real, adverse economic and health impacts on residents. Want to help? Sign up for their next volunteer tree-planting event at coolgreentrees.org.
23. Civil Rights attractions
Eight years ago, in one of his final acts, President Barack Obama established the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument. And while much planning has taken place to enhance the civil rights district, there’s isn’t much new to see. The Sixteenth Street Baptist Church plans to break ground soon on a new education and visitors center, which isn’t strictly a part of the National Park Service (NPS) management plan for the monument. The historic A.G. Gaston Motel has been partially restored by the city in a cooperative partnership with the NPS. Could this hopefully be the year that the NPS completes its portion of the motel’s long-awaited restoration?
24. Civil Rights photos
One underutilized asset that could help tell Birmingham’s and Alabama’s civil rights story is the incredible images captured by Birmingham News photographers during the height of the struggle. Much of this extraordinary collection has never been seen by the public, since the newspaper intentionally downplayed coverage of the struggle and the Black community in those days. A few years ago, the collection was donated to the Alabama Department of Archives and History, and much of it has now been digitized. 2025 marks the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act – a great year for representatives of the Archives, NPS and the Alabama Media Group (a.k.a. The Birmingham News) to produce an exhibition of the best and most powerful photos from the collection and then … make them a part of the Monument’s permanent exhibit.
25. What are your thoughts?
Enough random thoughts from one guy. I hereby return this space for more ideas to make our community better in 2025. I look forward to reading them in Comeback Town.
Michael Sznajderman is a retired public relations professional and former newspaper reporter, columnist and editor. He lives in Birmingham.
David Sher is the founder and publisher of ComebackTown. He’s past Chairman of the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce (BBA), Operation New Birmingham (REV Birmingham), and the City Action Partnership (CAP).
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Invite David to speak for free to your group about how we can have a more prosperous metro Birmingham. dsher@comebacktown.com.
Brilliant Michael! Thank you for advancing the conversation. Nothing innovative happens unless and until we focus our energies to make something happen. I like your suggestions.
Some are public; some are private; some require a public-private partnership. All deserve serious consideration.
Thanks Maury for all YOU do to make our community better!
Powell School Still POSSIBLE! 90% of walls structurally sound, playground available for companion structure (residential or other). 45% state/federal historic credits. Harbert Realty, owner.
Michael, I know this one is close to your heart. It could certainly be a catalyst for more development in this corner of downtown. Let folks know how they can help!
Excellent article, Michael. Your writing shines, your research is far reaching and your links will allow readers to follow up easily. This grateful reader is saving this email!
Thanks Lynn for the kind words. Happy New Year!
Thanks for the update on the list of 25 in 2025!
The Powell School is a must in 2025.
Kudos to Harbert Realty for taking ownership.
They are first class developers!
Thank you George and for your long commitment to our city.
The 21st Street Viaduct should absolutely NOT be torn down! It should be reimagined as a Greenspace with lawns, play areas, biking and pedestrian paths, Sunset Viewing benches, and even maybe a cafe and plaza area at the top for events, dancing, fitness classes. This “Highline” for Birmingham could be transformative and MUCH CHEAPER than demo-ing it. Thankfully city leaders are already (I think) thinking about more creative ways to use this space other than cars or just demolition.
Hi JR. First of all, I’m not a professional planner so this is just one man’s opinion. I get what you are saying, but we have an amazing greenspace literally blocks away: Railroad Park, where people already gather… I’m not convinced people are going to come out in the broiling sun to hang out in the summer on the viaduct. At one point there was discussion about expanding the Railroad Park onto the empty block in front of the Powell Avenue steam plant, but a lot of discussion took place and it was determined by better minds than I that that would not be the best use for that space either.
Michael, good thoughtful column. Thanks for writing it.
Thanks for all you do Don. I’m really playing in your puddle here!
Great write up! I still want to know why Highlands Bar & Grill haven’t reopened. I’ve heard all kinds of excuses but none are valid. It was lauded as the states crown culinary jewel, so if there’s one place you’d think you’d ensure was salvaged, wouldn’t it be that one? I look around at other cities and all of their “crown jewel” establishments reopened without a hitch.
They claim it was impossible to find suitable staff. So the staff at all your other restaurants is subpar? Why isn’t this a problem for other restaurants in other cities that DID reopen? It’s just weird that so many other great places opened, except Highlands.
I can only surmise they weren’t really making that much money, at least enough to justify staying in business. If it was making any one alot of money, it would be open. I’ve never heard of a profitable successful business closing while making good money.
I would certainly love an update from the top!
While Birmingham does a good job about remembering the Civil Rights Movement, it often focuses on it. What the area doesn’t do enough is focusing on the reasons why they didn’t just leave and what made it home. I’d hop there’d be some development for Tuxedo Junction. Extra points if it enables a walking friendly crossing over 20/59. While Bham got burned a bit with the Crossplex with it not leading to the wanted development for a long time and Ensley’s still going to take a bit to connect to revitalized areas, one of it’s biggest assets is the old building stock. But that stock needs help now or else it’ll fall apart.
Finley Roundhouse is another spot people have been wanting development for. Finley, as an area, has a lot of iconic Birmingham stuff: Nikki’s, the Alabama Farmer’s Market, Eagle’s. But there’s basically nothing else. It’s one of those spots that doesn’t need anything standout, but just some infill/pathing to make it connect better.
Yes! What’s going on with the historic roundhouse? I recently went by Tuxedo Junction, and that historic building continues to sit there… and what about the historic Ensley Works? I know it has long been envisioned as a site for future industrial development… But could it also be a very cool place for an amazing urban park with mountain bike paths, etc.? Like the old gas works in Seattle. So much potential all over our city.
Many excellent ideas to make the city environment more attractive. Focus needs to be on building human capital specifically education and health. Surprised there is no mention of enhancing preschool-12 educational opportunities for BHAM city students. Other than Ramsay HS, educational outcomes including college and career readiness are poor for other city high schools. Successful models including Holy Family Cristo Rey HS and the i3 Academy exist. Expansion of charter schools with the Education Savings Account (ESA) program (The CHOOSE Act) will offer parents a choice for their children.
Thanks Frank. Hard to tackle education in two or three sentences. Plus, I don’t think I’m qualified to do so. There are a lot of good things happening at Birmingham city schools, including Promise program, and third grade reading initiative. Certainly there is always more to do. In my house, we volunteer at Avondale elementary school through the STAIR program, which is making a real difference.
Many excellent ideas to make the city environment more attractive. Focus needs to be on building human capital specifically education and health. Birmingham city has some of the worst health metrics nationally for chronic diseases including obesity and related conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and kidney failure. While our excellent healthcare institutions offer fine care, it is essential to improve opportunities for health and safety in the community. Initiatives like enhanced access to healthy foods and activity with community engaged schools are effective. These schools by supporting the academic, social, emotional, and physical needs of students serve as hubs for community resources that would reduce the burden of chronic diseases.
It was a good article with very good points, but the idea that a northern beltway is not needed off of interstate 20 heading north is desperately needed for the tractor trailer traffic alone not withstanding regular passenger traffic. This is not an opinion, but a simple fact that the vast amounts of tractor-trailer traffic that have to drive through downtown Birmingham to access interstate 65 north is an exceptionally dangerous proposition and has been for 40 years.
Thanks Maxwell.As research shows, build a highway or add lanes and traffic will fill it. It won’t necessarily reduce traffic significantly on other roads. Plus, when you consider the billions of dollars that this project will take, I highly questioned that it is worth any kind of honest cost-benefit analysis. Not to mention the environmental degradation.