Do you think your move to Birmingham was a good one? (Hoover: high crime, headhunter)

[SouthernBoy205]

Do you think your move to Birmingham was a good one?

[bluebeard]

UAB is a good school, its cheap, and for the time being a decent place to live.

[evergreen101]

we're interested in UAB med school but concerned about the crime in the area that seems to be mentioned so often here on this board. Is it something that is a daily concern with life in Birmingham? Everything else about the city and school looks right up our alley, it's just the crime aspect we're a touch anxious about and how 'liveable' the city is in that regard. I don't want to have a long commute to the med school either but must live in a safe area. Can anyone shed any light on this? Thanks in advance!

[SouthernBoy205]

From what I hear, Birmingham's crime is slightly decreasing due to some strong police efforts to improve the city's high crime rate. Of course, there still needs to be a heap of improvement and change to take the city into a brighter future. Crime is still a disadvantage that Birmingham has. Over the next few years, crime may or may not improve depending on the new police chief. If I was you, I would kind of bear with Birmingham to see if the air is clear for you to make your decision to move to Birmingham. On the other hand, you have made a good decision to move to Birmingham! GOOD LUCK!!

[pvjd]

There are plenty of areas to live around Birmingham that are safe. UAB itself is fine, and since you most likely won't be hanging out in the inner-city you should be fine. For dwelling, I would try Homewood, Clairmont Ave., Highland Ave., Hoover, or Vestavia.

[3am green coffee]

Birmingham's crime statistics are misleading if you don't understand the city because crime is concentrated in certain areas. You probably wouldn't want to live in north or west Birmingham, but Southside doesn't have as much of a problem. The murder rate you might hear about is mostly attributable to the poor neighborhoods in the north and west parts of town, the "inner city" neighborhoods that have a lot of "black on black" crime.

I live a few blocks from UAB and don't feel the slightest bit intimidated walking around my neighborhood after dark. Apparently neither do my neighbors, because I see women out walking their dogs by themselves or with their kids.

[cpg35223]

Originally Posted by 3am green coffee

Birmingham's crime statistics are misleading if you don't understand the city because crime is concentrated in certain areas. You probably wouldn't want to live in north or west Birmingham, but Southside doesn't have as much of a problem. The murder rate you might hear about is mostly attributable to the poor neighborhoods in the north and west parts of town, the "inner city" neighborhoods that have a lot of "black on black" crime.

I live a few blocks from UAB and don't feel the slightest bit intimidated walking around my neighborhood after dark. Apparently neither do my neighbors, because I see women out walking their dogs by themselves or with their kids.

As usual a good post. There is absolutely a high murder rate in Birmingham. But it's very confined to gangbangers ventilating each other with Mac10s.

By the way, when I was called by a headhunter 16 years ago to interview in Birmingham, I practically laughed him off the phone. But I trusted this guy from previous dealings, and he asked me to at least talk to them. So I researched the company, researched the area, and had a couple of really good phone interviews. So, when they wanted to fly me down for another interview, I told my wife, who was very reluctant to come. I practically had to force her onto the plane, saying, "Hey, it's just ONE weekend, okay?"

As it turns out, we were totally blown away by what we found. A very livable, beautiful, and gracious city with plenty to do. Now when a headhunter calls me up about a slot out of town, I simply have to say, "My wife refused to move."

One thing I've noted, however. The success of your move will largely depend on the attitude you take before moving here. If you recognize that you're moving to a place with a bit of cultural difference and learn to acclimate yourself to those differences, then you will be fine. Sure, occasionally, somebody will ask you to come to church with them. But if you turn them down, they leave you alone. It's a pretty conservative town, politically, but not to the right of Attilla the Hun. And if you decide Birmingham's boring, then you just are lazy and have no imagination. There are tons of things to do every weekend here.

[bluebeard]

Originally Posted by evergreen101

we're interested in UAB med school but concerned about the crime in the area that seems to be mentioned so often here on this board. Is it something that is a daily concern with life in Birmingham? Everything else about the city and school looks right up our alley, it's just the crime aspect we're a touch anxious about and how 'liveable' the city is in that regard. I don't want to have a long commute to the med school either but must live in a safe area. Can anyone shed any light on this? Thanks in advance!

Don't worry about the crime so much. People go crazy about every little nothing around here. If something as minor as a suspicious guy lurks around an alley e-mails are sent throughout some of the UAB community to permeate fear. Statistics are just that. Don't forget that if you aren't in the wrong place at the wrong time doing the wrong thing, you are largely safe. Living in Southside and a lot of other places in the city limits is still not as bad as people seem to think.

[pvjd]

Birmingham stats cover not just Southside and UAB area, but also Avondale, N. Birmingham, W. Birmingham, Norwood, and all the way up towards Titusville, Fountain Heights and Ensley. It also includes some of the safest areas in area, such as Vestavia, Hoover, Mt. Brook, Bluff Park, Riverchase, etc. If you are attending medical school at UAB, I doubt you would be living too far out from the campus. Therefore, use common sense and you should be ok.