Birmingham, AL vs. Grand Rapids, MI

[mjlo]

Originally Posted by Mutiny77

Something tells me this isn't quite accurate.

I'd agree that saying GR is far more walkable and urban is unfair. Bham's downtown definitely looks and feels bigger than GR for sure, it peaked as a bigger city. Since it's peak in the 1950's Birmingham has lost a substantial amount of population in addition to expanding its borders. GR as a whole is significantly more dense than Bham at this point. It also has more intact neighborhoods outside of the core. I do think it's factually accurate to say GR is more walkable, but maybe not "far more".

[Mutiny77]

Originally Posted by mjlo

I'd agree that saying GR is far more walkable and urban is unfair. Bham's downtown definitely looks and feels bigger than GR for sure, it peaked as a bigger city. Since it's peak in the 1950's Birmingham has lost a substantial amount of population in addition to expanding its borders. GR as a whole is significantly more dense than Bham at this point. It also has more intact neighborhoods outside of the core. I do think it's factually accurate to say GR is more walkable, but maybe not "far more".

That definitely sounds more plausible. Birmingham is more structurally urban than a lot of people know or give it credit for. It's laid out on an pretty extensive grid with even declining outlying neighborhoods still retaining much of their basic urban form.

[Landolakes90]

Originally Posted by Mutiny77

That definitely sounds more plausible. Birmingham is more structurally urban than a lot of people know or give it credit for. It's laid out on an pretty extensive grid with even declining outlying neighborhoods still retaining much of their basic urban form.

Working in Grand Rapids this week after being in Birmingham last week reminded me of this thread. They feel so different it's hard for me to compare them. Birmingham does have a bigger feel to me because it's got that big 80's office park feel downtown. GR's downtown feels older, but better taken care of. It's more dense and filled in. Seems like more is going up GR too.

There's a neighborhood southeast-ish of downtown Birmingham by the UAB hospital(along 20th st I think) that I really liked, I'm not sure Grand Rapids really has an answer to it(maybe the Heartside neighborhood along Ionia Ave??)

Grand Rapids feels more compact and walkable IMO, especially as you get away from the core.

Walkscore seems to agree fwiw.

Birmingham https://www.walkscore.com/AL/Birmingham

Grand Rapids https://www.walkscore.com/MI/Grand_Rapids

Overall I could see myself being happy in either place. Definitely lots of reinvestment happening in both cities.