Category Archives: The City

UPDATE: A trial free zone starting Monday

I figured that would get your attention here on a Friday afternoon as you’re getting ready to enjoy a mostly rain-free weekend.

I thought you’d like it if we told you now instead of waiting until Monday to do so…

There are no plans to post anything – and I mean ANYTHING – about the pending Federal trial of Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford – until a conclusion to the matter is determined. Well, except for the piece I’ll post tomorrow morning that was posted early Saturday afternoon explaining why. (We’ll link to it from here).

Enjoy your Friday!

Car tags due in Aug. or Sept? You’ve got breathing room

Yes, we’re serious. Today the word came down from the state’s revenue commissioner, Tim Russell, that if your car tags are scheduled to be renewed either this month or in September in Jefferson County that you’ve now got until November to do so, meaning Birmingham residents don’t necessarily have to worry about standing in those long lines at the county courthouse or in Linn Park. The PDF was posted on the state’s revenue site earlier today and applies not only to vehicle registration renewals but property tax payment deadlines.

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What are we building in Birmingham?

One of the people who spoke at last week’s launch event for the Birmingham Business Alliance was Birmingham’s mayor, Larry Langford. Among other things, he announced plans for tomorrow’s groundbreaking for the BJCC’s multipurpose facility (a.k.a. dome) and other progress on projects throughout The Magic City.

As people begin to talk about the feasibility of the dome and other projects, they may want to take a look at this story published by The Next American City about whether or not a city should take the leap into convention center expansion.

Report overgrown lots via your iPhone – soon

Mayor Langford announced this morning during his mayor’s report information about a digital expansion of the 23 in 23 Campaign, taking a cue from a similar online component that will soon be introduced in Boston, MA.

Both cities plans to launch smartphone  applications, with Boston’s planning to be launched shortly, to assist in the reporting of overgrown lots, graffiti, and other “neighborhood nuisances.” The Boston Globe reported yesterday on Boston’s plans and what residents in that city think about the potential to simply report issues with a snapshot and an upload. The tool sounds like it will help Mayor Menino in his long-term efforts (BTW – the mayor’s race is in full swing in Boston).

Parking rates go up today in Birmingham

Folks looking for a parking space around Birmingham today may notice that it will most likely be costing them a little more to do so. Last week The Birmingham News reported that parking rates are going up; city officials hope that new parking meter mechanisms will be installed by the end of the year allowing them to double parking fees at 30 minute, 2-hour and 3-hour meters. Municipal parking deck and lot charges in the city center and at the airport will also be going up starting today. Don’t forget that parking ticket rates went up last year, with last July serving as the first of two months of amnesty for those with unpaid citations.

Photo: André Natta/bhamterminal.com

Langford wants to “Do the dome…NOW!”

The "Do the Dome" shirtBirmingham Mayor Larry Langford shared his intentions with the audience assembled in The Harbert Center early this morning. He hoped that the Birmingham City Council approves his request to release funds to begin construction of the much-talked about multipurpose facility for the BJCC campus downtown.

Or to put it simply, he’s saying, “Let’s do the dome… NOW!”

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Plans for cultural center in Ensley move forward

nixon4x6 Main Street Birmingham (MSB) got some several pieces of great news in recent days involving the Nixon Cultural Center project in Ensley will be able to move forward.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation has awarded MSB more than $4,700 in matching grant funds to be used for future development of the former NAACP meeting space in Tuxedo Junction. The money is from the National Trust’s African American Preservation fund and it will be used to assist in planning for the project’s completion and sustained operations. They also just received word that the Alabama Historical Commission Review Board approved the Nixon Building’s nomination to the National Register of Historic Places clearing the way for National Park Service approval. All of this news follows last fall’s $7,000 grant from the Alabama State Council on the Arts.

Photo: The Nixon Building. Courtesy of MSB.