Category Archives: 35208

Five Points West’s businesses are getting organized

The hopes and dreams for Birmingham’s western area have been front and center in recent months, including plans to revitalize the Five Points West commercial district with the proposed redevelopment of Fair Park and the opening of new businesses nearby (e.g., the city’s newest Applebee’s restaurant).

The Five Points West Business Association has been reactivated by city councilor Steven Hoyt to help unify the voice of the business community through the planned changes. Tonight he, Main Street Birmingham and Regions Bank are hosting their membership reception and organizational meeting at the BPL’s Five Points West branch beginning at 7 p.m. They’ll go over future plans for the area and ways that they can help themselves, including cooperative marketing. We look forward to seeing what happens next…

Langford’s Fair Park plan awaits Council approval Tuesday

Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford this morning laid out his plans to City Council members to completely revitalize Fair Park, a $125 – $150 million project that would be funded using portions of the recent sales and business tax increases, and could be completed in three years.All Langford needs now is the Council’s approval of the plan. It will be on the their agenda Tuesday.

“If ever there was a place that needs a shot in the arm, it’s Five Points West,” he said.

Langford said the project could be built debt-free using millions that the taxes are generating, plus unused money in the city’s budgets from stalled or inactive school and other capital projects. The city’s $55 million would jumpstart the economic development process.

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Birmingham’s police has its new wheels

Birmingham Police Department new decals

André Natta/Flickr

Birmingham’s Police Department appears to have settled on a new decal package for their vehicles. It was one of the early initiatives announced when Larry Langford was elected mayor late last year by himself and chief A.C. Roper.

Here’s a picture of one of them on patrol in the Five Points West area close to Fair Park Arena earlier today.

So, click here and let us know what do you think?

BTW, if you’re in the area today, stop by and say hello at Family Tech Day!

The First 100: Mayor Langford hosts crime summit tomorrow

10/30 logoMayor Langford is inviting all African American males in Birmingham, Alabama to attend a crime summit tomorrow evening beginning at 6 p.m. at Fair Park Arena. Two inmates from the St. Clair Correctional Facility will be on hand as well as a presentation of Plan 10/30 Why Am I Dying?/Do You Care?, an effort to reach out to this particular group and “change their mindset.”

There will also be a gun buy-back conducted by the SCLC tomorrow afternoon from 4:30 p.m. – 6 p.m. This flier has been received by The Terminal for purposes of distribution to anyone interested in attending tomorrow evening.

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Random Shots: Soon we’ll be eating good in the neighborhood

Applebee’s in Five Points West

The Applebee’s restaurant that has long been promised in Birmingham’s Five Points West community nears completion. It will be the seventh  metro Birmingham location and only the second location west of I-65 and first in the city limits.

The restaurant is already poised to do great business, especially with the potential of an upgraded Birmingham International Raceway and the steady addition of new businesses on the city’s West side.

Travelogue: Nashville sees Birmingham Int’l Raceway commitment as hope

Save Nashville Speedway posted earlier today about a meeting on December 20 between management of the Birmingham International Raceway, currently located on the Alabama State Fairgrounds in Birmingham’s Five Points West community, and Mayor Larry Langford.

The post, which sites a release posted on the front page of the raceway’s website, states that Mayor Langford was fully supportive of continued racing at the fairgrounds. He’s asked for the raceway’s management to submit its plans for 2008, including a master plan detailing improvements to the 95-year old facility, in early January so that it can be discussed and then introduced to the Fairgrounds board and the Birmingham City Council.

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Schaeffer Eye Center Grand Opening & Trunk Show

It may not be a crawfish boil, but Terminal readers are invited to celebrate the grand opening of Schaeffer Eye Center’s newest office in Five Points West, 2100 Bessemer Road. Frame vendors will hold trunk shows for Prada, Ferragamo and Cazal-Caviar beginning at 1 p.m. Or arrive later for door prizes and refreshments from 5:30-8:30 p.m.

Cost: Free