No Hub In McCalla (Bessemer, Mountain Brook: sales, house, neighborhood)

[Back Again]

Originally Posted by cpg35223

Oh, I love that argument.

It's really simple. That entire area was zoned for probable commercial/industrial development years ago, at the expense of taxpayers all over the county. Jefferson County expended considerable resources in the mid- to late-90s preparing that entire tract of land for precisely this kind of usage, before there was any kind of major residential development. I know, because I visited that area. I saw the plats, I saw the land use studies, and I knew that, at the time, there was next to nothing out there. It was an ideal piece of real estate because it was inexpensive, unpopulated, and flat for eventual rail access. Sayre, where you suggest, is ill-suited for development for a rail hub. Like most of Jefferson County, it is hilly, making it difficult to put together the large tracts of contiguous land that are required for large-scale integration of industrial and distribution properties with a transportation net.

So now, 15 years down the road, suddenly all these homeowners who now live in the area are up in arms because the county intends to go ahead with the plans it had laid out years ago. I mean, this isn't like these guys sat up last week and said, "Hot damn! There's some vacant land over there! Let's run a railroad through it!"

When I looked for my house, I certainly didn't buy a home next to land that was zoned commercial/industrial. Yet the people who are protesting this did exactly that, despite the fact that the intended use of the neighboring properties had been explicitly defined for years. So now, according to you, the taxpayers of Jefferson County are expected to just eat the considerable costs sunk into the Jeff Met area just because the new homeowners in the area have not done their due diligence.

Although your answer is very impressive, there are no facts, have you ever though of running for government?

Here is the proposed Terminal site




Here is the county map of that area


Where's all this Industrial/Commercial land you are talking about????.
Yes there is some on this map, but none where the Terminal will be, it is 99% Residential with 1% Agricultural and the total Industrial/Commercial land on this county map make is a small fraction. You make it seemed like it was 95% Industrial/Commercial land and only 5% Residential.


Ok, now lets take this a step further. You stated "That entire area was zoned for probable commercial/industrial development years ago, at the expense of taxpayers all over the county. Jefferson County expended considerable resources in the mid- to late-90s preparing that entire tract of land for precisely this kind of usage, before there was any kind of major residential development."

You also stated "When I looked for my house, I certainly didn't buy a home next to land that was zoned commercial/industrial. Yet the people who are protesting this did exactly that, despite the fact that the intended use of the neighboring properties had been explicitly defined for years."

NEWS FLASH, once you get south of the small Sadler Ridge development, the homes that will be torn down to build this were built in the 70's with several in the 40s and 30s and one even in 1900, even then, Sadler Ridge was built in the 90s

Finally, if all this is so great, why was the land that was just purchased, was purchased with a gage order until it was a done deal? There is not doubt that Jefferson County wanted to keep this hushed for as long as they could. Hell, I lived here for over 11 years and I just found out about this a week ago from a large developer, who was born and raised in McCalla, who just found out the week before. Maybe the info was out there, I don't know, but one really would have had to dig to find it and it defiantly was not in the news.
　
　
　
　

[Back Again]

Originally Posted by jpatt10

So now we have someone from Hayden, AL, Not even in Jefferson County or anywhere near the area in question trying to tell us what good for us.

[cpg35223]

Originally Posted by Back Again

Although your answer is very impressive, there are no facts, have you ever though of running for government?

Here is the proposed Terminal site




Here is the county map of that area


Where's all this Industrial/Commercial land you are talking about????.
Yes there is some on this map, but none where the Terminal will be, it is 99% Residential with 1% Agricultural and the total Industrial/Commercial land on this county map make is a small fraction. You make it seemed like it was 95% Industrial/Commercial land and only 5% Residential.


Ok, now lets take this a step further. You stated "That entire area was zoned for probable commercial/industrial development years ago, at the expense of taxpayers all over the county. Jefferson County expended considerable resources in the mid- to late-90s preparing that entire tract of land for precisely this kind of usage, before there was any kind of major residential development."

You also stated "When I looked for my house, I certainly didn't buy a home next to land that was zoned commercial/industrial. Yet the people who are protesting this did exactly that, despite the fact that the intended use of the neighboring properties had been explicitly defined for years."

NEWS FLASH, once you get south of the small Sadler Ridge development, the homes that will be torn down to build this were built in the 70's with several in the 40s and 30s and one even in 1900, even then, Sadler Ridge was built in the 90s

Finally, if all this is so great, why was the land that was just purchased, was purchased with a gage order until it was a done deal? There is not doubt that Jefferson County wanted to keep this hushed for as long as they could. Hell, I lived here for over 11 years and I just found out about this a week ago from a large developer, who was born and raised in McCalla, who just found out the week before. Maybe the info was out there, I don't know, but one really would have had to dig to find it and it defiantly was not in the news.
　
　
　
　

Because that land was slated for development. Hey, don't take my word for it. Go to the JeffCo economic development people. It's been in the public domain since at least 1998.

[Back Again]

Originally Posted by cpg35223

Because that land was slated for development. Hey, don't take my word for it. Go to the JeffCo economic development people. It's been in the public domain since at least 1998.

Problem here is, there are a lot of things that are public record, BUT you have to know what you are looking for in order to find them. Anything is easy, once you know.

And once again, let say it was public domain since 1990 vs 1998. Most of the homes in that area, on the other side of Eastern valley Road were built in the 70s and earlier and have been in families for generations. Even homes that were built after 1998 (with the exception of the new sub divisions) were built on family land given to their kids to build a home on. What do you tell all them?

You may be right about Sarye, but the few times I have been there, I do not remember it being hilly, just poor and the people needing work. I can not remeber what, I just know some big "something" closed down, leaving pretty much, the entire town out of work.

[cpg35223]

Originally Posted by Back Again

Problem here is, there are a lot of things that are public record, BUT you have to know what you are looking for in order to find them. Anything is easy, once you know.

And once again, let say it was public domain since 1990 vs 1998. Most of the homes in that area, on the other side of Eastern valley Road were built in the 70s and earlier and have been in families for generations. Even homes that were built after 1998 (with the exception of the new sub divisions) were built on family land given to their kids to build a home on. What do you tell all them?

You may be right about Sarye, but the few times I have been there, I do not remember it being hilly, just poor and the people needing work. I can not remeber what, I just know some big "something" closed down, leaving pretty much, the entire town out of work.

Hey, when Jefferson County was first looking at developing that land, a lot of families who had been there for a long time got a very nice check, and a lot of other families were contacted about future plans, a large number of them by registered letter.

What's more, when the plans for this entire complex were first brought to the attention of the public in the mid 90s, there were public hearings, there were presentations at city council meetings, and there were kinds of public discussions. It's not the fault of Jefferson County that the people in that area couldn't pry themselves away from whatever was on television that night.

[Back Again]

Originally Posted by cpg35223

Hey, when Jefferson County was first looking at developing that land, a lot of families who had been there for a long time got a very nice check, and a lot of other families were contacted about future plans, a large number of them by registered letter.

What's more, when the plans for this entire complex were first brought to the attention of the public in the mid 90s, there were public hearings, there were presentations at city council meetings, and there were kinds of public discussions. It's not the fault of Jefferson County that the people in that area couldn't pry themselves away from whatever was on television that night.

Umm, where did you hear that? A good frind of mine lived in that area up to a year ago, infact he lived right on the cornner of Eastern Valley Road and McAshen, who is also a developer and his Dad still lives next door, for well over 40 years and he told me, he never got notice, a check or heard a thing about this until a few weeks ago.

[cpg35223]

Originally Posted by Back Again

Umm, where did you hear that? A good frind of mine lived in that area up to a year ago, infact he lived right on the cornner of Eastern Valley Road and McAshen, who is also a developer and his Dad still lives next door, for well over 40 years and he told me, he never got notice, a check or heard a thing about this until a few weeks ago.

Not that he remembers. All this planning took place in the mid 90s. You know, the type of meetings where they put those nice big notices in the newspaper, and mail notices to people to show up at City Hall where they can look at the nice big maps and read the plans and voice their objections?

[Back Again]

Originally Posted by cpg35223

Not that he remembers. All this planning took place in the mid 90s. You know, the type of meetings where they put those nice big notices in the newspaper, and mail notices to people to show up at City Hall where they can look at the nice big maps and read the plans and voice their objections?

Two quick comments

• Are you in any way involved (directly or indirectly) with this? You would make a great spin doctor.

• There was a City Planning Meeting last Thursday in Birmingham on this. If this is so open, why did I not get a notice of this meeting? I only knew about it from the No Hub 4 McCalla - Home website. Why, because they are only required to send out notices to those home with in 400 FEET of this! Like this will not effect any other homeowner.

[mcjean]

If you, cpg35223, are so in love with this idea, please help the residents of McCalla by getting the government to reconsider this location and to redesign the facility in Mountain Brook. We will all ban together to help support you in getting the railroad in your backyard.

Since your area is not one of the fastest growing areas in Jefferson County, there shouldn't be as many young children to be affected or as many new homes to lose their value.

Please be assured that we are on your side and will do all that we can to help you get this facility relocated to Mountain Brook. We will start writing letters and signing petitions today if you will just say the word. We like our flat farm land and would love to keep it that way.

[Back Again]

Originally Posted by mcjean

If you, cpg35223, are so in love with this idea, please help the residents of McCalla by getting the government to reconsider this location and to redesign the facility in Mountain Brook. We will all ban together to help support you in getting the railroad in your backyard.

Since your area is not one of the fastest growing areas in Jefferson County, there shouldn't be as many young children to be affected or as many new homes to lose their value.

Please be assured that we are on your side and will do all that we can to help you get this facility relocated to Mountain Brook. We will start writing letters and signing petitions today if you will just say the word. We like our flat farm land and would love to keep it that way.

~Amen~
Where's that petition? I'll sign it right now. We all know how cpg35223 only wants what is best for Jefferson County and all of us here in the Bessemer/McCalla area are way too selfish, so let's be a little unselfish and let cpg35223 do what's good for Jefferson County and move the Hub to Mountain Brook. I think we can all do that for him, can't we?