[mimpdaddy]

Originally Posted by harry chickpea

Drive past it on I-65 and notice how horrible the Interstate is within city limits. Drive down Southern Blvd. and notice how it has the feel of urban decay. Drive north towards Syl. and notice how bad it looks. Many cities don't put their best foot forward to the passing motorist, but Montgomery makes a point of showing it's atheletes foot and bunions. I'll let others explain some of the other reasons.

Sir, I dont think you have really been to Montgomery. First off, you are judging the city without even visiting it. Montgomery downtown is amazing and it has come along way. And I guess you missed WEST Birmingham, Memorail pkwy in Huntsville, or Prichard in Mobile. I promise anyone if they even took a visit into the city of Montgomery they will be very impressed. Montgomery as so much to see that I cant name it all.Many people talk about I-65 in Montgomery but have you ever traveled I-85, East montgomery or been to Prattville or Wetumpka.Maybe you haven't be to Montgomery recently to see the change, but people need to stop getting this negative preception of Montgomery through word of mouth.Hell, didn't you see it on Oprah yesterday.

[harry chickpea]

I can't disagree with many of your points. Yeah, west Birmingham has some areas that are the pits. Memorial Pkwy in Huntsville is a disaster, as I've mentioned before. Prattville OTOH, from what I've seen of it, seems to be growing into a nice Stepford Wives community. Very ordered and clean looking, but a little frightning to me when I think of living there, but that is just me.

As for downtown Montgomery, you are correct that I haven't made that trip recently. My experience is that I rarely go into any major metropolitan downtown area, because they irritate the heck out of me. When I lived on Southside in Birmingham, my visits to downtown were limited to rare trips to the museum, and some concerts. When I lived outside Miami, I avoided Brickell Ave like the plague, again only venturing in for museums and conventions. I think of all the other cities where I've lived, and the importance on a day-to-day basis of the downtown areas to me, and I realize that they simply have far less impact than the strip malls where shopping occurs, and the perimeter streets that are used on a daily basis.

If you were to say that downtown Montgomery now had a domed stadium, an aquarium, a gambling casino, and a forty acre park complete with snowcapped mountains, I couldn't dispute it, but it really wouldn't change my opinion that, through the years, Montgomery has totally screwed up I-65 and made it into a 30 and 40 mph interstate with road surfaces that are worse than many abandoned streets in ghetto neighborhoods.

The public impression that Montgomery gives to the passing motorist is an embarassment to the state of Alabama. I'll grant that malfunction junction in B'ham has at times run a close second, but it handles far greater amounts of traffic and has to deal with heavily loaded trucks carrying steel on a regular basis.

There is simply no excuse for a city like Montgomery to self-perpetuate the negative perception that people get of it. Spend the money, turn the stretch of I-65 within the city limits into something resembling the 20 miles of the interstate immediately north of it. Obviously someone in the area understands how to build roads properly, but they don't get a chance to do work in the city, where the same construction project (and likely same cronied construction company) has been fiddling around since the War of Northern Agression.

[Southlander]

mimpdaddy, we desperately need some Montgomery folks on here to tell your city's story! Most of us have only been through Montgomery or just briefly visited. Please hang out with us so our visitors can get a better idea about your city!

[JerseyGirl3624]

Seems like everyone loves Alabama. It's on the list., but will probably explore northern part as I love the mountains and lakes. As long as I'm close enough to drive to the beach for long weekends.
On a side note:
Planning a sales meeting beginning of April.
Has anyone recently stayed at the Grand Hotel Marriott Resort in Port Clear?
Also looking at Cancun and Scottsdale AZ. Any help would be appreciated!

[Reactionary]

My sister went to a convention at Point Clear last summer. She gets there fairly often. She likes it. A lot...

Alabama Beach Resort on Gulf Coast: The Grand Hotel Marriott Resort, Golf Club & Spa

Mobile / Point Clear / Gulf beaches are about six hours drive from North Alabama.

[the_pearle]

Originally Posted by JerseyGirl3624

Seems like everyone loves Alabama. It's on the list., but will probably explore northern part as I love the mountains and lakes. As long as I'm close enough to drive to the beach for long weekends.
On a side note:
Planning a sales meeting beginning of April.
Has anyone recently stayed at the Grand Hotel Marriott Resort in Port Clear?

The Grand is gorgeous. It got hit during Katrina, and I haven't been since then, but I'm pretty sure they've finished the renovations.

As an Alabama native currently living in New England, I'd say Alabama's a pretty lovable place, in spite of its reputation.

[mimpdaddy]

Originally Posted by harry chickpea

I can't disagree with many of your points. Yeah, west Birmingham has some areas that are the pits. Memorial Pkwy in Huntsville is a disaster, as I've mentioned before. Prattville OTOH, from what I've seen of it, seems to be growing into a nice Stepford Wives community. Very ordered and clean looking, but a little frightning to me when I think of living there, but that is just me.

As for downtown Montgomery, you are correct that I haven't made that trip recently. My experience is that I rarely go into any major metropolitan downtown area, because they irritate the heck out of me. When I lived on Southside in Birmingham, my visits to downtown were limited to rare trips to the museum, and some concerts. When I lived outside Miami, I avoided Brickell Ave like the plague, again only venturing in for museums and conventions. I think of all the other cities where I've lived, and the importance on a day-to-day basis of the downtown areas to me, and I realize that they simply have far less impact than the strip malls where shopping occurs, and the perimeter streets that are used on a daily basis.

If you were to say that downtown Montgomery now had a domed stadium, an aquarium, a gambling casino, and a forty acre park complete with snowcapped mountains, I couldn't dispute it, but it really wouldn't change my opinion that, through the years, Montgomery has totally screwed up I-65 and made it into a 30 and 40 mph interstate with road surfaces that are worse than many abandoned streets in ghetto neighborhoods.

The public impression that Montgomery gives to the passing motorist is an embarassment to the state of Alabama. I'll grant that malfunction junction in B'ham has at times run a close second, but it handles far greater amounts of traffic and has to deal with heavily loaded trucks carrying steel on a regular basis.

There is simply no excuse for a city like Montgomery to self-perpetuate the negative perception that people get of it. Spend the money, turn the stretch of I-65 within the city limits into something resembling the 20 miles of the interstate immediately north of it. Obviously someone in the area understands how to build roads properly, but they don't get a chance to do work in the city, where the same construction project (and likely same cronied construction company) has been fiddling around since the War of Northern Agression.

If thats how you feel, then that's that. But your negative comments can't stop the progress this city is making.I-65 happens to be running thru Montgomery westside, which is a largely black community and thats the reason many don't care. But the last time I went home there was road work taking place and new signs being put up, so you cant use that against my city anymore . This city had its up and downs but that's what makes it great ,a matter of fact, this city changed the world.Maybe thats why you don't like Montgomery. “Envy is a symptom of lack of appreciation of our own uniqueness and self worth. Each of us has something to give that no one else has.”

[harry chickpea]

"If thats how you feel, then that's that. But your negative comments can't stop the progress this city is making.I-65 happens to be running thru Montgomery westside, which is a largely black community and thats the reason many don't care."

Huh??? Where did that come from, and how does that make sense? The upkeep of a major interstate highway is neglected because it happens to run through a black area? I've been on a lot of interstates and that makes no sense to me.

" But the last time I went home there was road work taking place and new signs being put up, so you cant use that against my city anymore."

Actually, if you had finished reading, that was exactly the thrust of my post. The road work there is never-ending. And I'm not using it "against" "your" city. The leaders in the city are doing this all on their own, without my having any input on the matter. Please place responsibility in the proper quadrant.

"This city had its up and downs but that's what makes it great ,a matter of fact, this city changed the world.Maybe thats why you don't like Montgomery."

That seems to also be a very weak rejoinder. I've stated very clearly the major impression that Montgomery presents to myself and other passers-by. If you want to read into that statement that I don't like the city because it "changed the world" then I'm afraid that meaningful discourse is impossible. I would debate the point that Montgomery (the city) changed the world, but that would be a tangent to a tangental discussion.

“Envy is a symptom of lack of appreciation of our own uniqueness and self worth. Each of us has something to give that no one else has.”

What does quoting simplistic Elizabeth O'Connor homilies have to do with this subject?

[downtowndoll]

The Grand Hotel is finished and everything there is lovely. They have a cool pool. Waterfalls,etc.

Are you looking for a hotel in Cancun? We stayed at the Riu Palace- Las Americas; it was awesome, and I picked it over the Ritz Carlton. I was very impressed with the Riu Palace brand. There is a less expensive Riu brand but the Palace brand is pricier. This location is good; great beach compared to many other hotels, and you can walk to the big clubs and some malls. Next time, I plan to stay in Playa del Carmen at the Riu Palace there.

About Montgomery:
I am a former 4th grade teacher. Montgomery's downtown is really neat, and I certainly hope David Bronner doesn't ruin the view of the State Capitol building with that monstrosity of a building that's being planned. I do prefer Mobile more simply because it's by the water.

My favorite thing to see is the Archives Building and also Old Alabama Village. There is also a great state park nearby in Wetumpka- Fort Toulouse, I think. We went to one of those historic reenactments with several time periods there- it was amazing. People dressed as Native Americans demonstrating tomahawk skills- WOW. I mean, he was chopping apples perfectly in half off people's heads!

[Bama`s Port]

There are is a lot of progress in Montgomery, I noticed that the paople who usualy have negative things to say about Montgomery don`t live there. The same for Mobile when the Baldwin county forumers use to post such rude and negative comments about Mobile. Now all you see is the national attention that is directed towards Mobile , When more Montgomery forumers begain to come to this site you want be the only one that will be defending it Mimp. For a little while I was the only one who was doing it for mine , I read on the CNN website for business back around October of 2007 and when I was looking at all of the great and wonderful things it said about Mobile , and there was one other metro from Alabama that was on there .It was Montgomery and they had a lot to say about you guys that wouldv`e boosted your pride for your city man !!
When ever you get a chance look it up Mobile and Montgomery was in the company of cities like Atlanat,Autin, Charlotte and many other prosperous cities both were in the top 12 on that site.