Category Archives: What’s great about Birmingham

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 →

David Sher posts, What's great about Birmingham

Glenn Beck: Birmingham will restart America

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On the evening of June 17, 2015, a mass shooting took place at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in downtown Charleston.  Nine people were shot and killed.

You can’t help but wonder, ‘What if nine people had been executed in a church in Birmingham?’

Would there be rioting in the streets of Birmingham like there was in Ferguson–or would we come together as a community as they did in Charleston? Continue reading Glenn Beck: Birmingham will restart America →

Guest blogger, What's great about Birmingham

New energetic Birmingham: Not just for young folks

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Janice James Eubank
Janice James Eubank

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

Today’s guest blogger is Janice James Eubank.  If you’d like to be a guest blogger, please click here.

We recently had family visiting in town. Although they are native ‘Hamians’….they most recently lived out of the country but wanted to see the “old town,” with an emphasis on seeing loft locations in Birmingham. We only had an afternoon with them, so we packed in a loaded agenda ending the night at Highland’s Bar and Grill with Goren Avery, “Gastro Concierge Extraordinaire”. Continue reading New energetic Birmingham: Not just for young folks →

Guest blogger, What's great about Birmingham

Don Logan: Folks called us nuts!

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Don Logan, retired Chairman Time Warner. Owner--Birmingham Barons, Seek Publications, B.A.S.S
Don Logan, retired Chairman Time Warner. Owner–Birmingham Barons, Seek Publications, B.A.S.S

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

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

Folks said we were nuts when we moved the Barons downtown.

“Downtown isn’t safe.”

“I’d never come downtown with my children.”

“The City of Birmingham will never get its act together.”

“You guys must be crazy.”

It was difficult to listen to the negative talk—but we knew the move to Birmingham was the right thing to do.  Stadiums were moving into urban areas and were being successful.

And the City of Birmingham did it right. Continue reading Don Logan: Folks called us nuts! →

David Sher posts, What's great about Birmingham

Publix wacky for building a store downtown?

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PublixHas Publix gone mad?

The executives at Publix must be on drugs—bought at its own pharmacy.

Why would any sane company build a grocery store in downtown Birmingham?—not just a kids sized model—but a full size grocery store—pharmacy and all.

Publix must not have gotten the memo about white/black flight from the city center and the vast dangerous wasteland left behind.

Has Publix lost all sense of reality?
Continue reading Publix wacky for building a store downtown? →

Alabama Constitution, Corporate community, Government structure, Guest blogger, UAB, What's great about Birmingham

There’s no stopping Birmingham

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Maury Shevin
Maury Shevin

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

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

I recently attended a meeting of real estate professionals from the Birmingham area.

Dick Schmalz, President RGS Properties, spoke about his 20 Midtown development.  20 Midtown is the new Publix, Starbucks, retail and apartment buildings that are being developed between 3rd and 4th Avenues South on both sides of 20th Street.  These are not pie-in-the-sky projects.  They are real with building permits and bank financing. Dick said these three projects will cost more than $100 million.

Continue reading There’s no stopping Birmingham →