Birmingham Marketplace at the Westin artist renderings (Avon: loft, crime)

[NorthDeKalb]

Hello everyone

I'm currently a resident of Atlanta, but lived in Birmingham for quite some time. While passing through a couple of weekends ago, I noticed the progress taking place next to the BJCC, as well as the new baseball stadium across from RR park. Its great to see this type of momentum in Birmingham again.

Here are the final renderings of the new hotel and ET district. I'm interested to hear some of your thoughts, and whether or not you intend to patronize the district.

Enjoy!


http://constructbirmingham.files.wor...e-overview.jpg


http://constructbirmingham.files.wor...ain-street.jpg


http://constructbirmingham.files.wor...ce-ra-blvd.jpg


http://constructbirmingham.files.wor...place-plan.jpg

[Tourian]

I think it is a great idea. I just wish it was tied to a brand new BJCC, but maybe that will come later. My family and I will be all over it once it is finished.

[cpg35223]

Well, I think the great unsaid factor in whether this flies or not is crime prevention. North Birmingham isn't exactly the safest territory around, so it better be well patrolled with security cameras out the wazoo.

However, one of the encouraging factors that points to this effort's possible success is the way downtown Birmingham itself has become kind of hip and chic. Drive down 2nd and 1st avenues now, and you'll see any number of dining and drinking establishments, something that was unheard-of ten years ago. This has been propelled in large part by the loft community. So I hope this Westin thing only adds to the area's momentum.

[bluebeard]

If it's one of those kinds of downtown developments filled with chains and overpriced restaurants oriented toward visitors and people with expense accounts, such as conference goers and government workers, then it probably wouldn't personally interest me. However, if its successful as an economic engine, then that's great. My main question is why do they plan for surface lots and huger driving areas. It's pretty much standard to consider those a waste of space in urban and mixed-use developments now. he amount of space cars are given in the middle of the supposed entertainment area makes it pretty unlikable for pedestrians. Take the large surface lot area, put a few layers on it, take out all of the driving and parking in the rest of the development. You probably wold still have enough added parking spots to provide for the surrounding area.

[aturner339]

North Birmingham (and Norwood though it's turning around) is facing tough times but it's pretty removed from the area of the BJCC. It's an area I'm pretty familiar with the area (Go ASFA wooo!) and it's not very dangerous. It IS dangerously unhip though and hopefully this will change that.

I share bluebeard's concern that it might become part of the undifferentiated mass of chain restaurants and over-priced retailers that plagues Birmingham. Hopefully they can incorporate some local flavor like what's springing up in Avondale. Hopefully they won't build another Chik-Fil-A I think we have enough.

The surface parking is a pain, but hopefully success will mean more demand for the land to be better used.

[harry chickpea]

I'm rarely impressed by this stuff. Nice eye-candy renderings though. The potential escape hatch for 23rd St is kinda funny.