Category Archives: What’s great about Birmingham

Guest blogger, What's great about Birmingham

Massive trail system planned for Birmingham

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Wendy Jackson, Executive Director Freshwater Land Trust
Wendy Jackson, Executive Director, Freshwater Land Trust

ComebackTown is published by David Sher to begin a discussion on a better Birmingham.

Today’s guest blogger is Wendy Jackson.  If you’d like to be a guest blogger, please click here.

When it comes to great walking, jogging, and cycling—Birmingham doesn’t usually come to mind.

EV World selected Birmingham as one America’s five least bike-friendly cities…

“Growth has led to sprawl, but city planning has lagged behind in growth when it comes to bicycle and pedestrian safety…a lack of bike lanes and useful paths across the city make it one of the least bike-friendly cities in the United States.”

Well, we’ve had enough and we’re going to change the landscape of Birmingham forever.

Continue reading Massive trail system planned for Birmingham →

Guest blogger, What's great about Birmingham

World-class adventure park being built in Birmingham

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David Dionne, Executive Director, Red Mountain Park
David Dionne, Executive Director, Red Mountain Park

ComebackTown is published by David Sher to begin a discussion on a better Birmingham.

Today’s guest blogger is David Dionne.  If you’d like to be a guest blogger, please click here.

We are in the process of building Red Mountain Park into one of the finest adventure parks in America.

If you have never heard of the Park or still think we are near Vulcan’s statue then you need to stop and take a look around.  You will find an urban signature Park developing right beneath your nose and it will change your life and reshape your understanding of Birmingham.
Continue reading World-class adventure park being built in Birmingham →

Guest blogger, What's great about Birmingham

Unleashing the power of a Birmingham neighborhood

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David Fleming,, President &CEO of REV Birmingham
David Fleming, President & CEO of REV Birmingham

ComebackTown is published by David Sher to begin a discussion on a better Birmingham.

Today’s guest blogger is David Fleming.  If you’d like to be a guest blogger, please click here.

You may not have noticed but the city of Birmingham’s reinventing itself—one neighborhood at a time.

Neighborhoods such as Norwood, Woodlawn, and Avondale are all being transformed—and that’s only the beginning.

Great urban neighborhoods are born in different ways.

Some spring up naturally as neighbors become friends; some are catalyzed by a big development; and some are planned.

But there’s one Birmingham neighborhood that’s taking reinvention to new level. Continue reading Unleashing the power of a Birmingham neighborhood →

Guest blogger, What's great about Birmingham

How Birmingham cut homelessness by 53%

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Teresa Thorne, Executive Direct or City Action Partnership (CAP)
Teresa Thorne, Executive Director, City Action Partnership (CAP)

ComebackTown is published by David Sher to begin a discussion on a better Birmingham.

Today’s guest blogger is Teresa Thorne.  If you’d like to be a guest blogger, please click here.

We in Birmingham are doing a lot of things right.

If you don’t believe me, jump in your car and drive all over downtown and midtown.

There’s construction everywhere.  In fact it’s difficult to get around because orange plastic barrels are blocking lanes, and fences are blocking sidewalks.

This is exciting—and you can see it with your own eyes.

But there is less of one thing–and I bet you didn’t notice. Continue reading How Birmingham cut homelessness by 53% →

Guest blogger, What's great about Birmingham

I challenge our children to make Birmingham great

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Giles Perkins
Giles Perkins

ComebackTown is published by David Sher to begin a discussion on a better Birmingham.

Today’s guest blogger is Giles Perkins.  If you’d like to be a guest blogger, please click here.

Editor’s note:  Railroad Park transformed Birmingham. Against  great  odds and overwhelming skepticism, Giles Perkins and a group of committed community volunteers persevered.  I asked Giles to write this piece to give insight to those of you who would like to make a difference.

I think it was in 2002 when I made my first visit to the lot that became Railroad Park.

My sons were younger then–their sister was not born yet–but they came with me and brought their bicycles.  There was a burnt out railcar in the corner.  In the middle of the lot there was an old trailer with someone living in it.  A sign on the door said DON’T KNOCK UNLESS YOU ARE THE POLICE OR I WILL SHOOT.

We packed up the bicycles.  On the ground I found a rusted railroad spike.  I took that spike and put it on my desk as a reminder of the task I had taken on and the distance we needed to travel to have success. Continue reading I challenge our children to make Birmingham great →

Guest blogger, UAB, What's great about Birmingham

Birmingham’s astonishing renaissance

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Merrill Stewart, President Stewart Perry Company
Merrill Stewart, President Stewart Perry Company

ComebackTown is published by David Sher to begin a discussion on a better Birmingham.

Today’s guest blogger is Merrill Stewart.  If you’d like to be a guest blogger, please click here.

Birmingham is in the middle of a renaissance—and I want the world to know.

It is rewarding to watch the transformation of the city I call home and then share this energy with friends and neighbors who, quite frankly, never saw it coming.

Why I’m proud:

Continue reading Birmingham’s astonishing renaissance →

Guest blogger, What's great about Birmingham

The event that will change Birmingham forever

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Darin White

ComebackTown is published by David Sher to begin a discussion on a better Birmingham.

Today’s guest blogger is Darin W. White, Ph.D .  If you’d like to be a guest blogger, please click here.

Earlier this year it was announced that Birmingham, AL won the bid to host the 2021 World Games. Winning the bid to host the World Games is a tremendous opportunity for our city in so many different ways.

I told AL.com back in January that “It gives us the opportunity to create a positive and lasting legacy for our great city. It will spark dialogue and cooperation among the dozens of communities that make up Birmingham and allow us to build bridges that cut across racial and socioeconomic lines.” Continue reading The event that will change Birmingham forever →

David Sher posts, Government structure, Population, What's great about Birmingham

Atlanta more screwed up than Birmingham

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I have mixed emotions about Atlanta.

There’s no doubt I feel a certain amount of envy —probably because I grew up in the ‘50’s when Birmingham and Atlanta were about the same size. I have fond memories of my dad taking me to Rickwood Field to root for the Birmingham Barons when we played the evil Atlanta Crackers in Southern League baseball. Continue reading Atlanta more screwed up than Birmingham →

David Sher posts, What's great about Birmingham

2010—the year that changed Birmingham forever

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Birmingham Southside pre 2010
Birmingham Southside lot pre 2010

There are two important dates in the history of Birmingham:  1871 when Birmingham was founded and 2010 when Birmingham found itself.

I’ve lived in Birmingham my entire life.  I’ve always hoped for a better Birmingham, but I never imagined the Birmingham that is being created today.

Five years ago, except for UAB, Birmingham was frozen in time.

It was generally accepted that we could do nothing right—so why try?
Continue reading 2010—the year that changed Birmingham forever →

David Sher posts, What's great about Birmingham

Zombies spotted in Birmingham

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I’m currently binge-watching The Walking Dead.”—the TV series about a small band of survivors struggling to live day to day in an apocalyptic world overrun by flesh-eating zombies.

The survivors are strong-willed, tenacious—and optimistic.  The zombies are vicious, unrelenting and intent on destroying all that is good. Continue reading Zombies spotted in Birmingham →