Category Archives: Business

Hotel surge hits the city

Posted on June 30, 2008 | Leave a comment

It’s not like we don’t need the extra rooms in any case, but has anyone else found it just a little weird how many new rooms and renovations have been announced in recent days? We know of at least one guy who’s got to be loving it.

Besides the one linked to the pending purchase of Carraway Medical Center by Shinsegae USA, there’s also the recent opening of one of the new look Microtel properties in Hoover and today’s announcement about the $6.5 million worth of upgrades being made at the Hilton Birmingham Perimeter Park, scheduled for completion in October.

That’s on top of the other lodging projects currently underway known and unknown in the metro Birmingham area, including the Hyatt Place under construction on the city’s Southside (even though it is not listed among ones that will be opening in the near future).

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A mini building boom on the city’s Northside

Posted on June 27, 2008 | Leave a comment

Future hotel site in Norwood

acnatta/bhamterminal.com

We’ve got one more – hotel that is. After announcing that they’d renovate the former McArthur School as part of a purchase of the former Carraway Methodist Medical Center, representatives of Shinsegae USA have announced plans to build a new hotel to service their potential new purchase. The hotel would service the hospital as well as provide additional rooms for events and conferences at the BJCC.

Mayor Langford decided to have the building sitting on the property identified by the potential investors leveled while details about its and the hospital’s purchase are being finalized. Here’s what’s left of the warehouse that once stood at 12th Avenue North and Carraway Blvd.

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Don’t mail that letter just yet…

Posted on May 12, 2008 | Leave a comment

You may want to make sure that you’ve got that extra 1¢ on your envelope. Starting today the United States Postal Service will increase rates across the board for postage while offering discounts for those that use their online services.

So you’ve got until whenever you don’t feel like going out by the post office to pick up some Forever Stamps before the rates go up again next May or you can check out this new (and exhaustive) list of rates and services that went into effect this morning. And since they can now raise postage rates every year, you may also want to make that online purchase of that Black Terminal T that you want us to mail to you so we can take advantage of that lower rate Wink (we’re just saying…)

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Posted in Business, National

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Mountain Brook Inn comes down

Posted on April 30, 2008 | 2 comments

 Mountain Brook Inn razing begins

Mountain Brook Inn being demolished today. leadingzero/twitpic

The wrecking ball (or crane as the case may be) appears to be providing evening rush hour drivers along U.S. Highway 280 with a show – in the form of the demolition of the Mountain Brook Inn. According to this story published on April 10 in The Birmingham News, the demolition is scheduled to take approximately eight weeks.

Thanks to @leadingzero for the use of the image; you can also check out this post on BirminghamDome to learn more about the known plans for the property (as well as that author’s thoughts about it’s place in Birmingham’s current development scheme).

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Posted in 35223, architecture, Business

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Get to the airport without driving?

Posted on April 18, 2008 | Leave a comment

Among the improvements being made to the regional transit system in the near future (due in part to Mayor Larry Langford‘s $9 million pledge earlier this year) is the start of a shuttle that would connect downtown Birmingham, AL with its international airport. Similar services currently exist in many regional cities. No word on the cost of the ride out to the state’s busiest airport.

According to the story published in this week’s Birmingham Times, the service will begin shortly after the BJCTA receives its first allocation of the funds, $4.5 million, in July.

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Posted in Business, Regionwide, Transit

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No tax on groceries? Could be…

Posted on April 16, 2008 | Comments Off on No tax on groceries? Could be…

The Alabama State House of Representatives passed a measure yesterday that would allow voters to decide via referendum in November if they will pay state taxes on groceries. The bill would also take away the ability for some taxpayers to deduct their Federal income tax from their amount of state taxes due as a replacement for revenue, leading to some interesting discussion and opinions.

According to the article in today’s Birmingham News, the bill’s sponsor believes that the measure, if approved, would save a majority of the state’s taxpayers money. It would also still allow taxes to be charged at the local and county level.

What do you think? Click here to let us know.

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Posted in Business, Magic City Question, Statewide

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Just dial up to find lighter traffic, cheaper gas

Posted on April 7, 2008 | Leave a comment

Some local Verizon Wireless customers have already noticed that they’ve got a couple of new features on their phone. The company announced recently that it would roll out its new Verizon Wireless VZ Navigator service in 75 cities, including Birmingham. It now provides another service for area residents to go along with Commuter Feed, which we wrote about back in February.

Drivers with access to the service will be able to view how traffic is flowing, and receive details about reported accidents, disabled vehicles and congestion along with suggestions for detours. The Gas Finder feature allows drivers to locate gas stations nearby and view gas prices at many area gas stations, providing turn-by-turn directions as needed… Now if the car could only drive itself it’d be perfect!

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