So Birmingham...... (Montgomery, Tarrant, Lincoln: quality of life, move, manufacturing)

[sleepless in Bham]

Could you imagine the Birmingham metro population at 2 million?, 3 million? maybe more?.

Would the quality of life here change with that many people?

What would Birmingham have to give up, if anything to be that large?

Would you want to see Birmingham grow to that size in the first place?, if so, why?

If not, why not?.

[cpg35223]

Well, a metro population of 2,000,000 is a stone cold cinch within the next couple of decades. 3,000,000 within the next fifty years is also a likelihood. I say this because of several important cultural and economic shifts over the past 10-15 years. The metro has gotten its act together in industrial recruitment, the area continues to address the lifestyle issue in remarkable fashion, and the diversification of the economy continues to accelerate. The metro went through rapid growth in the 80s and 90s, and then paused from 2005 to today.

Now it's looking as if it's about to go through a new phase of growth. There certainly are a number of factors that are driving this. The abundance of water and cheap power. The business-friendly climate.

To me, the essential question becomes this: Will local governments manage to work together on a select number of issues, such as transit and overall city planning? That will tell us if we will become another chaotic sprawl like Atlanta or grow into a more agreeable metro such as Nashville or Charlotte.

[sleepless in Bham]

Originally Posted by cpg35223

Well, a metro population of 2,000,000 is a stone cold cinch within the next couple of decades. 3,000,000 within the next fifty years is also a likelihood. I say this because of several important cultural and economic shifts over the past 10-15 years. The metro has gotten its act together in industrial recruitment, the area continues to address the lifestyle issue in remarkable fashion, and the diversification of the economy continues to accelerate. The metro went through rapid growth in the 80s and 90s, and then paused from 2005 to today.

Now it's looking as if it's about to go through a new phase of growth. There certainly are a number of factors that are driving this. The abundance of water and cheap power. The business-friendly climate.

To me, the essential question becomes this: Will local governments manage to work together on a select number of issues, such as transit and overall city planning? That will tell us if we will become another chaotic sprawl like Atlanta or grow into a more agreeable metro such as Nashville or Charlotte.

First, I think the number of local governments in Jefferson County are about to shrink. I think places like Lipscomb, Brighton, Tarrant City, etc are broke, or just barely hanging on financially.

Second, It would be a forward thinking move for the county to adopt smart growth planning countywide to prevent the endless sprawl that most are against.

Third, the transportation infrastructure in this county is still a major hurdle. The completion of I-22 should open NW Jefferson for residental development, but can the local surface roads handle the increased traffic volume?. How many other "280" would happen if the county and ALDOT continue to lag on dollars and solutions? What about the Northen Beltline?

[birminghamster]

Originally Posted by sleepless in Bham

Third, the transportation infrastructure in this county is still a major hurdle. The completion of I-22 should open NW Jefferson for residental development, but can the local surface roads handle the increased traffic volume?. How many other "280" would happen if the county and ALDOT continue to lag on dollars and solutions? What about the Northen Beltline?

That's why I think we'll see more development into Shelby, Saint Clair and Bibb counties than NW Jefferson.

[Freeminds]

Originally Posted by cpg35223

Well, a metro population of 2,000,000 is a stone cold cinch within the next couple of decades. 3,000,000 within the next fifty years is also a likelihood. I say this because of several important cultural and economic shifts over the past 10-15 years. The metro has gotten its act together in industrial recruitment, the area continues to address the lifestyle issue in remarkable fashion, and the diversification of the economy continues to accelerate. The metro went through rapid growth in the 80s and 90s, and then paused from 2005 to today.

Now it's looking as if it's about to go through a new phase of growth. There certainly are a number of factors that are driving this. The abundance of water and cheap power. The business-friendly climate.

To me, the essential question becomes this: Will local governments manage to work together on a select number of issues, such as transit and overall city planning? That will tell us if we will become another chaotic sprawl like Atlanta or grow into a more agreeable metro such as Nashville or Charlotte.

Bham already the size of Nashville and Charlotte sprawls about as much any other any other sunbelt city of 2 million people.

Neither have transit options that touch Atlanta nor do they have the number of existing and planned dense mix use areas and development.

[sleepless in Bham]

Originally Posted by birminghamster

That's why I think we'll see more development into Shelby, Saint Clair and Bibb counties than NW Jefferson.

I gotta disagree with that one, mainly because of lack of interstate access.

[birminghamster]

Originally Posted by sleepless in bham

i gotta disagree with that one, mainly because of lack of interstate access.

20-59?

[ashpelham]

Still gonna need a major job push to make this happen. Who will be relocating their corporate HQ's to this area, with it's perceived lack of educated employees? We might obtain more manufacturing jobs, strangely enough, because of the right to work status of Alabama, and based on the results in Montgomery, Lincoln, Vance, etc. And those jobs would be great to have. But expansion to the size of 2 million? 3 million? I could see that happen in perhaps 100 years.

[sleepless in Bham]

Originally Posted by birminghamster

20-59?

20/59 doesnt actually go through the county itself. There only one exit (exit 97) that comes close to Bibb, but thats it.

[birminghamster]

Originally Posted by sleepless in Bham

20/59 doesnt actually go through the county itself. There only one exit (exit 97) that comes close to Bibb, but thats it.

Still, that's good enough access for towns like West Blocton to grow. Not the entire county.