The 15 Hottest Cities for 2015

[Landscape_Arch07]

I have many family and friends in Mobile and according to them Mobile has been "up and coming" or "the next big thing" for at least 25 years, but little has changed there since the 80s.

[Mutiny77]

For some Alabama representation, Birmingham (which is truly experiencing a downtown renaissance) or Huntsville would have been much better choices. Mobile has its advantages but there's just not too much happening there these days for it to be considered an "it" city.

[JMatl]

Originally Posted by Mutiny77

For some Alabama representation, Birmingham (which is truly experiencing a downtown renaissance) or Huntsville would have been much better choices. Mobile has its advantages but there's just not too much happening there these days for it to be considered an "it" city.

I REALLY like Birmingham. I was very pleasantly surprised, and they are growing. It really does fly under the radar, though.

[AtlantaIsHot]

Originally Posted by Mutiny77

For some Alabama representation, Birmingham (which is truly experiencing a downtown renaissance) or Huntsville would have been much better choices. Mobile has its advantages but there's just not too much happening there these days for it to be considered an "it" city.

Totally agree that Mobile isn't showing much evidence of a "boom." I thought that was a dubious choice but one can't deny it's port is important. I feel the best choice for Alabama is Huntsville. Huntsville is the ONLY sizable metro that's growing significantly. Some of Huntsville's metro counties experienced double-digit growth for the past 2 decades. It's added almost 20,000 residents over the past 3 years while Mobile has added 1,000 and Birmingham added 12,000.

[AtlantaIsHot]

Originally Posted by stillinthesouth

I missed it at first too because the link sends you to the mid-point of the list.

Anyhow, good to see Atlanta make a list like this for a change, along with the current "It" city of the South, Nashville, which seems to be featured on every trendy list these days.

I apologize for that. I thought for sure I had returned to page 1 of the slideshow... I didn't realize it until yesterday, by which time it was too late for me to edit.

[JoeP]

It's added almost 20,000 residents over the past 3 years while Mobile has added 1,000 and Birmingham added 12,000.

Most of Mobile's growth is on the other side of Mobile bay - that county is growing quite well.
While the area has seen some wins related to its port and Airbus, it's got a ways to go. It's unfortunate because it's old port city that has a lot of potential.

When it comes to East Coast ports, it most certainly is 'all about Savannah.'

Mobile isn't even a blip on the radar at this point.

Mobile is not on the East coast....

[JMatl]

Originally Posted by JoeP

Mobile is not on the East coast....

Correct. But mathman's post included ports all over the place all the way up to NY, and Savannah is the leading port in the South - bar none, Gulf or Atlantic. It was relevant.

[MathmanMathman]

Originally Posted by JMatl

Correct. But mathman's post included ports all over the place all the way up to NY, and Savannah is the leading port in the South - bar none, Gulf or Atlantic. It was relevant.

Apparently MSN Money thinks Mobile is destined to be a southern trading hub.

The 15 Hottest American Cities For 2015

And Norfolk and Baltimore can handle those larger container ships right now.

[JMatl]

Originally Posted by MathmanMathman

Apparently MSN Money thinks Mobile is destined to be a southern trading hub.

The 15 Hottest American Cities For 2015

And Norfolk and Baltimore can handle those larger container ships right now.

Then MSN Money would be wrong. And it really doesn't matter if Norfolk & Baltimore can handle the larger ships now, Savannah has already passed them. Only L.A., Long Beach and NY have busier ports, and Savannah is deepening the harbor at any rate.