Guest blogger, What's great about Birmingham

Birmingham Crossplex–$100 million impact—gets a bad rap

1 Comment
Faye Oates, Birmingham Crossplex, Director
Faye Oates, Birmingham Crossplex, Director

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

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

The news media consistently reports the west side of Birmingham as a haven of crime and mayhem.

The news media very rarely reports on the west side residents who go to work every day, maintain their homes impeccably, and are committed to having a great neighborhood. Continue reading Birmingham Crossplex–$100 million impact—gets a bad rap →

David Sher posts, What's great about Birmingham

Birmingham NOT one of the most dangerous cities in America

8 Comments

Sometimes I feel invisible.

No one seems to hear me when I insist that Birmingham is NOT one of the most dangerous cities in America.

We hear that Birmingham has historically been a rough and tumble town.  Our media bombards us with one homicide story after another.

Every year respected publications like Forbes include Birmingham in its list of one of the 10 most dangerous cities in America.

Our propensity to crime is just accepted as part of our DNA.
Continue reading Birmingham NOT one of the most dangerous cities in America →

Corporate community, Guest blogger, What's great about Birmingham

Leading the parade of professionals back downtown

2 Comments
John Shank, Barfield, Murphy, Shank and Smith
John Shank–Barfield, Murphy, Shank and Smith

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

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

This wouldn’t have happened five years ago.

It wouldn’t have happened two years ago—or even last year.

But now’s the time…

Some people may view CPA’s as dull and boring, but we’ve always viewed ourselves as creative and visionary.

We want to lead the parade—not wait and get left behind.

That’s why we want to move people in Riverchase to downtown Birmingham. Continue reading Leading the parade of professionals back downtown →

David Sher posts, Government structure

Mountain Brook points fingers at Birmingham

9 Comments
Mountain Brook Village
Mountain Brook Village

I love to write about Mountain Brook.

People are interested in Mountain Brook and I know a lot about the subject matter–since I’ve lived much of my life and raised my children there.  (I now live in Vestavia Hills)

When I write about Mountain Brook— I’m mostly talking about the three dozen municipalities that surround Birmingham—so you folks in Mountain Brook—please don’t take this personally.

I was recently talking with a good friend (which I will call ‘Bob’) from Mountain Brook. Continue reading Mountain Brook points fingers at Birmingham →

Guest blogger, What's great about Birmingham

Massive trail system planned for Birmingham

6 Comments
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 →

David Sher posts

5 Points South landlords are dumb

11 Comments
Grafitti at 5 Points South
Graffiti all over 5 Points South

My wife and I and two other couples were going out to eat one evening.

I suggested one of my favorite restaurants–Surin West in 5 Points South.

One of the women said, “I don’t feel safe around some of the people who hang out at 5 Points.”  The other woman quickly agreed.

So we chose another restaurant in a different neighborhood. Continue reading 5 Points South landlords are dumb →

Guest blogger, What's great about Birmingham

World-class adventure park being built in Birmingham

5 Comments
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

1 Comment
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 →

David Sher posts

Even insiders screw Birmingham

10 Comments
David Bronner, CEO RSA
David Bronner, CEO RSA

I’ve written repeatedly how Birmingham’s always been dominated by outsiders.

U.S Steel headquartered in Pittsburgh, once Birmingham’s largest employer, controlled our economy.

Montgomery, our state capital, has historically treated Birmingham like a step child.

The UA Board of Trustees in Tuscaloosa calls the shots for our now largest employer UAB.

And through recent acquisitions many of our largest companies and banks are now managed from out of state. Continue reading Even insiders screw Birmingham →

To begin a conversation about a better Birmingham