Category Archives: David Sher posts

Birmingham not worst place to live in America

View of Homewood from the top of the Mountain in Vestavia Hills
View of Homewood from Vestavia Hills overlook

I’m sick and tired of some people saying how bad Birmingham is.

I love our Birmingham region!

I constantly meet folks, who move here ‘kicking and screaming,’ but later refuse out of state job opportunities and retire here. Continue reading Birmingham not worst place to live in America

Gardendale, Irondale, & Fultondale: The devil made us do it!

The devil
Drawing by Adam Stermer

The national media continue to beat us up–First The New York Times and now The Wall Street Journal.

In December of last year, The New York Times wrote a piece subtitled, “Nashville and others are thriving…while cities like Birmingham, Ala., fall behind.”

Continue reading Gardendale, Irondale, & Fultondale: The devil made us do it!

Could be the biggest day in modern Birmingham history

Jefferson County population 1970-2017
Jefferson County population 1970-2017

April 3, 2019 could be the biggest day in Birmingham history.

This is not an exaggeration.

Our region has historically been plagued with distrust and dysfunction. Continue reading Could be the biggest day in modern Birmingham history

Time for Birmingham to take advantage of Nick Saban

Nick Saban, head football coach University of Alabama
Nick Saban, head football coach University of Alabama

A good friend of mine was lamenting that his daughter was getting ready to graduate from the University of Alabama, but was moving to Dallas to begin her career and would probably never come home. Continue reading Time for Birmingham to take advantage of Nick Saban

Pinch me! This is the new Birmingham!

Vesta on Highland Avenue in Birmingham is a 17 story apartment complex with 318 units and a 500 space parking garage
Vesta on Highland Avenue in Birmingham is a 17 story apartment complex with 318 units and a 500 space parking garage

In the mid 1980’s when I was Chairman of Operation New Birmingham (REV Birmingham), I was asked to make some comments at the opening of one of the first loft apartment projects in downtown Birmingham.

At the time, I don’t think 150 people lived downtown. Continue reading Pinch me! This is the new Birmingham!

Who do we blame for I-20/59 shutdown?

Elevated bridges of Interstate 59/20 divide Birmingham, isolating neighborhoods and creating a clear boundary between two parts of the city.
Elevated bridges of Interstate 20/59 divide Birmingham, isolating neighborhoods and creating a clear boundary between two parts of the city.

ALDOT closed I-20/59 through downtown–and the sun came up the next day.

I don’t know if this has been a fiasco or a nonevent, but I do know it’s time we take control of our future. Continue reading Who do we blame for I-20/59 shutdown?