Can courageous Mountain Brook man transform our neighborhoods?

August 22, 2017 David Sher 6 Comments

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

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

I describe Jay Craig as a Mountain Brook man—but that’s neither fair nor accurate.

Yes, Jay and I both attended Mountain Brook High School, but when he graduated, he left Mountain Brook never to return.

He currently resides in Sherman Heights near Ensley and lives a humble life congruent with his neighbors. Continue reading Can courageous Mountain Brook man transform our neighborhoods? →

Guest blogger, What's great about Birmingham

Why a Birmingham man wants to be called ‘Elephant Man’

August 16, 2017 David Sher 1 Comment

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

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

There’s never been a neighborhood in Birmingham that’s gone through a more drastic transformation than Avondale.

A few years ago some people outside the community would have been afraid to get out of their cars. Continue reading Why a Birmingham man wants to be called ‘Elephant Man’ →

David Sher posts, Government structure

Alabama must think we’re chumps (and we are)

August 8, 2017 David Sher 9 Comments

Do you have any idea what’s about to hit us?

D Day is October 1^st, 2018—next year.

And we’re letting it happen without a whimper—because, quite frankly, it’s too late.

This is just another example how we in greater Birmingham accept our helplessness and lack of vision. Continue reading Alabama must think we’re chumps (and we are) →

Guest blogger

This Homewood millennial’s commute will surprise you!

August 2, 2017 David Sher 2 Comments

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

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

My name is Mike Mahon.

My wife and I live in Homewood.

I grew up in the Birmingham area, graduated from the University of Virginia, and work as an investment banker in downtown Birmingham.

I’m an ordinary guy—but a recent improvement to my day-to-day routine has been raising a surprising amount of curiosity from people. Continue reading This Homewood millennial’s commute will surprise you! →

David Sher posts, Race relations, What's great about Birmingham

Time for Birmingham to embrace our civil rights past

July 25, 2017 David Sher 5 Comments

Birmingham’s been called the ‘city of perpetual promise.’

But that potential seems to elude us.

Destiny, however, has dealt us a hand and it’s up to us to grab it.

If we want to make our mark on the world then we must identify how we’re unique and how we can exploit that uniqueness. Continue reading Time for Birmingham to embrace our civil rights past →

Guest blogger, UAB, What's great about Birmingham

Timid Mississippi gal intrigued by Birmingham

July 19, 2017 David Sher 2 Comments

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

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

Close your eyes and imagine a timid young 17-year-old girl entering “Malfunction Junction” with a car full of school supplies, boxes, and clothes.

She had never lived anywhere else but in her hometown of Meridian, MS,– population 39,000 people. Continue reading Timid Mississippi gal intrigued by Birmingham →

Government structure, Guest blogger, Population

Jeffrey Bayer challenges Birmingham

July 11, 2017 David Sher 6 Comments

Jeffrey Bayer, Bayer Properties — Jeffrey Bayer, President & CEO of Bayer Properties

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

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

I’ve always loved Birmingham…but quite frankly I’m disappointed.

I’m not talking about just the City of Birmingham—I’m talking about all of Birmingham—yes, all cities and counties.

Birmingham’s beautiful; our people are smart and generous; but it’s exasperating that we continue to lose our children, our businesses, and our jobs. Continue reading Jeffrey Bayer challenges Birmingham →

Government structure, Guest blogger, Population

We need to have a tough conversation…

July 5, 2017 David Sher 9 Comments

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

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

It’s time for a tough conversation about Birmingham. I know that we have been putting this off for a while, but time is running out. Continue reading We need to have a tough conversation… →

David Sher posts, Government structure

Birmingham may be best city in America

June 27, 2017 David Sher Leave a comment

The national media is having a love affair with Birmingham.

The Washington Post recently wrote, “With revitalized neighborhoods and a ramped-up food culture, Alabama’s largest city boldly returns to the stage…”

The New York Times quickly followed, “You’ll find a city (Birmingham) experiencing an electrifying revival. Creative entrepreneurs are returning home…”

Birmingham is having so much positive press lately–it’s almost become boring.

But then 24/7 Wall Street dropped a bomb on us. Continue reading Birmingham may be best city in America →

Guest blogger, What's great about Birmingham

Why we escaped the Mountain Brook bubble

June 21, 2017 David Sher 10 Comments

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

Today’s guest bloggers are husband and wife Maury Shevin & Joyce Spielberger. If you’d like to be a guest blogger, please click here.

Having lived much of our lives outside of the City, why move into the City?

We’ve made our livings in the City of Birmingham, but so do many other non-residents.

So, what compelled us to want to make the City our home?

First, and foremost, we were done being in the suburban bubble. Continue reading Why we escaped the Mountain Brook bubble →

To begin a conversation about a better Birmingham