What's next for Birmingham? (Downtown mostly.) (Powell: hotel, theatre, college)

[bhamoutlook]

Last year was a wild ride... and a very exciting one at that. There were so many new things announced or started. But, as I look around, there's obviously room for plenty more and the demand will be there once these projects are completed. I was at Railroad Park today admiring how beautiful the district is and what a great place it will be to live for those at LIV and Venue. However, there are still a lot of blank spaces. We've gotten a lot of what we hoped for. The grcoery store, the baseball stadium, more green space is coming and whatever amazing plans they have for Powell Steam Plant. In anticipation of the completion of all this stuff this year, what are we hoping for next?

My list:
1. UAB brings football back and announces a stadium where it was previously planned.
2. New Public Transit Option (At least an announcement of BRT or LRT)
3. Dome Stadium Announcement (this year. Obvious one.)
4. Shopping in downtown. (Is that too far away? I'm hoping for an extension of Uptown with some retail.)
5. More flights at the airport.
6. A new hotel. 4 star.

[sleepless in Bham]

Originally Posted by bhamoutlook

Last year was a wild ride... and a very exciting one at that. There were so many new things announced or started. But, as I look around, there's obviously room for plenty more and the demand will be there once these projects are completed. I was at Railroad Park today admiring how beautiful the district is and what a great place it will be to live for those at LIV and Venue. However, there are still a lot of blank spaces. We've gotten a lot of what we hoped for. The grcoery store, the baseball stadium, more green space is coming and whatever amazing plans they have for Powell Steam Plant. In anticipation of the completion of all this stuff this year, what are we hoping for next?

My list:
1. UAB brings football back and announces a stadium where it was previously planned.
2. New Public Transit Option (At least an announcement of BRT or LRT)
3. Dome Stadium Announcement (this year. Obvious one.)
4. Shopping in downtown. (Is that too far away? I'm hoping for an extension of Uptown with some retail.)
5. More flights at the airport.
6. A new hotel. 4 star.

Pretty good list. I would add continuing to see an increase in population within the city limits. 220-230,00 by 2025 is a reasonable goal IMO.

[Jukesgrrl]

I don't know the rest of the story of your city, but as an observer of college football I would certainly say UAB got the shaft from the state. I feel for those young players and wouldn't blame them if they wanted the Tide to roll ... right into the Gulf of Mexico.

[Tourian]

Entertainment.

Movie theatre, bowling, &.

More clubs. Not just hip hop or college alternative or jazz/blues but country.

[lem1985]

what would the dome stadium do for the area ? would have any big events besides the Magic City Classic ?

[Tourian]

Originally Posted by lem1985

what would the dome stadium do for the area ? would have any big events besides the Magic City Classic ?

Birmingham already hosts an ESPN bowl game. There has been talk of doing an SEC kickoff classic game as well.

That's just football.

The main point of the facility is to host events that are outgrowing or have outgrown the BJCC. The "dome" will be a multi use facility. Football will be one of its many uses and not its main use.

[raj kapoor]

Originally Posted by Tourian

Birmingham already hosts an ESPN bowl game. There has been talk of doing an SEC kickoff classic game as well.

That's just football.

The main point of the facility is to host events that are outgrowing or have outgrown the BJCC. The "dome" will be a multi use facility. Football will be one of its many uses and not its main use.

Give up Tourian, in twenty years people can't seem to get the details of this project. The facts have been published over and over and still questions like this arise. It seems like selective ingnorance.

[sleepless in Bham]

Originally Posted by raj kapoor

Give up Tourian, in twenty years people can't seem to get the details of this project. The facts have been published over and over and still questions like this arise. It seems like selective ingnorance.

Believing the dome/multi use facility will be built after taking about it for 20 years is ignorance in itself.

Build a 35-40,000 seat multi purpose arena and a outdoor stadium to replace Legion Field near the UAB campus and end this dome stadium talk once and for all.

[raj kapoor]

Do you know how long it took to build the Brooklyn Bridge? So if you had been in charge it would be unfinished to this day.

Commitment is a virtue, not a weakness. Great achievement is hardly ever the by-product of compromise.

[sleepless in Bham]

Originally Posted by raj kapoor

Do you know how long it took to build the Brooklyn Bridge? So if you had been in charge it would be unfinished to this day.

Commitment is a virtue, not a weakness. Great achievement is hardly ever the by-product of compromise.

It only took 11 years to build the Brooklyn bridge and that was in the late 1800's. People have been talking about this project since the late 80's/early 90's, almost 30 years and still nothing has been done, and were still pouring millions into Legion Field. Its been past time to give up on this idea of a domed facility. Build an new arena for the needed space at the BJCC and a outdoor stadium for football and other outdoor event near the UAB campus and Regions Field to replace Legion Field.