The Next Atlanta (Birmingham, Hoover: best neighborhoods, crime, unemployment rate)

[sleepless in Bham]

Originally Posted by brent6969

Like I said, I am disappointed that Birmingham has not lived up to its full potential. It is in a beautiful area with the hills and such, but just lacks many things to do. I wish it could be more competitive with Atlanta. But Atlanta is just light years away now, at one point on or around 1950 they were very much the same size. My point above in VALID, sorry, and just the fact you mentioned "Jewish" people driving Mercedes and BMWs is a racist remark. Currently Birmingham is in a mess not totally different from a Rustbelt city.

1. I think we all are

2. While most people think Atlanta's a sprawling mess . Most people with half a brain probably wish we could compete with Atlanta.

3. While Bham is in a mess, I dont think we are at the level of cities like Buffalo, etc, etc.

[sleepless in Bham]

Originally Posted by Ga native

I would thank my lucky stars that it is not another Atlanta. Urban sprawl and bumper to bumper rude
people. Oh yes..I left and never intend on going back.

Oh yeah the last time I was over there, everyone I made eye contact with was just outright mean, and the sprawl and the massive traffic just made my stay just awful.

Seriously you lived in a metro with 5 million + people. What did ya expect? A small town with one stop light?.

[bluebeard]

Originally Posted by sleepless in Bham

Oh yeah the last time I was over there, everyone I made eye contact with was just outright mean, and the sprawl and the massive traffic just made my stay just awful.

Seriously you lived in a metro with 5 million + people. What did ya expect? A small town with one stop light?.

A town in which you don't have to drive.

[bluebeard]

Originally Posted by sleepless in Bham

I went over to check out the NC forum, and it seems to me its not a major deal to most. Also, infrastructure can keep pace with growth if its done right to start with. The problem here is that we dont build infrastructure for future needs, we wait for the problem to get out of hand, THEN we want to do something about it. (prime example Hwy 280)

So yes a 35% growth rate within a 10 yr period doesnt automatically equate to endless sprawl.

Coming from a place that is the result of sprawl, you don't realize that as soon as you build a highway, the traffic increases, and little is changed, except you will have had subsidized more and further flight from the central area of the metro area, and paved over nature and agricultural lands in the process.

[Tourian]

Originally Posted by sleepless in Bham

The problem here is that we dont build infrastructure for future needs, we wait for the problem to get out of hand, THEN we want to do something about it. (prime example Hwy 280)

That's how I feel about the northern beltline. I don't understand all the opposition against it. If we wait until we desperately need it, it will be too late and too expensive to build.

[bluebeard]

Originally Posted by Tourian

That's how I feel about the northern beltline. I don't understand all the opposition against it. If we wait until we desperately need it, it will be too late and too expensive to build.

The opposition is that I don't think this is the type of infrastructure I want. There are other infrastructure needs I would. I think supporting spending into highways actually works counter to the economic health of the city itself. And it were to succeed due to extensive suburban sprawl, it would then create the kind of city I wouldn't want to live in. Not everyone wants to live in Atlanta, and it is not because we have less than half a brain (at least I THINK my other half is around here, somewhere).

[sleepless in Bham]

Originally Posted by bluebeard

Coming from a place that is the result of sprawl, you don't realize that as soon as you build a highway, the traffic increases, and little is changed, except you will have had subsidized more and further flight from the central area of the metro area, and paved over nature and agricultural lands in the process.

Thats true, but who is to say out of that 35% growth all of it would be in the suburbs. If the central city can get its act together it could become an attractive place to move into. Birmingham has enough infrastructure to support a population over 300k plus.

[sleepless in Bham]

Originally Posted by Tourian

That's how I feel about the northern beltline. I don't understand all the opposition against it. If we wait until we desperately need it, it will be too late and too expensive to build.

I think most of the opposition is coming from those who believe that it would effect the area's water supply. The end of the Northern Beltline in NE Jefferson County is near the beginning of the Cahaba River.

[sleepless in Bham]

Originally Posted by bluebeard

The opposition is that I don't think this is the type of infrastructure I want. There are other infrastructure needs I would. I think supporting spending into highways actually works counter to the economic health of the city itself. And it were to succeed due to extensive suburban sprawl, it would then create the kind of city I wouldn't want to live in. Not everyone wants to live in Atlanta, and it is not because we have less than half a brain (at least I THINK my other half is around here, somewhere).

So what kind of infrastructure needs would you rather the money and time be focused on?. Light rail and HSR dont have the support area wide, but spending the money on existing infrastructure would be a great idea, but what can you do with the 4.3 billion dollars you would of spent with the Northern Beltline. The reconstruction of malfunction junction would obviously be the highest priority in my opinion.

The reasoning behind the Northern Beltline in the first place is to route commercial traffic around the city. This also could be a toll road project, it would be completed in half the time or less.

[blue_haze]

It's so sad Birmingham is one of the only major southern sunbelt cities to b losing population.