Tag Archives: urban

I was on my way to a meeting late last week, walking westbound along 1^st Avenue North when I got to 22^nd. I suddenly wished I’d had my camera with me because of the tableaux vivant before me – one that would definitely tell a story to Birmingham area residents. It would have been one that no doubt confused them and enraged them at the same time.

The easternmost lane of traffic was blocked off as city crews worked to restripe 22^nd Street. The westernmost lane was occupied by one of the MAX buses that had been purchased right after I arrived in town four years ago – broken down at a bus stop. The driver was standing at the door to the bus, leaning on it and looking as though it had happened many times before. A passenger looked quite animated as he vented the frustration of all the others at the driver, who appeared as though he cared, but knew that he could do nothing.

In the background because of the angle one could look at The News’ new building and the cranes signaling construction on a much-needed garage addition next to former corporate headquarters soon to become a luxury hotel.

I said the scene would tell a story to Birmingham residents, though some who stumble across this post will no doubt wonder why, since some would argue that this scene takes place in cities across the world every day.

In college one of my architectural history professors introduced me to a phrase I often use to describe urban life:

The city’s a stage.

All of life is a theatre, a play if you will, with some sets more dramatic than others. We’re all actors, whether intentionally or not. The big city is normally viewed as that stage – the place where you pull out all the stops. My favorite story from living on the coast is of Charleston’s mayor, Joe Riley, choosing the gravel for their waterfront park based on the sound it made under his feet. People still revel in his attention to detail as well as the constant examination of whether or not he was doing what was best for the city and its citizens. He has had his critics as well for other reasons but that’s more of a Dre’s Rambings post anyway…

Here in Birmingham there are some projects that will move forward visibly in the near future, among them those first two legs of the Three Parks Initiative, our new downtown hotels and the expansive campus green that now punctuates that you’re on an urban college campus on the city’s Southside. Improving that main stage of downtown is tempting and necessary, though perhaps it is more important to look at the realities of the situation and determine how to help the understudies – the folks that help the theater continue to run from day to day – enjoy their stages as well.

Some of the “realists” out there would say that paving city streets in the midst of an economic crisis doesn’t make sense. It makes perfect common sense however when streets without potholes make it easier for us to get from point A to point B without it tearing up our cars. This way we can earn money to keep a roof over our heads.

What the realists should question is the idea to stripe the same streets that you’re proposing to repave first as part of an ambitious infrastructure improvement campaign. Especially after stating that one of the reasons that you’re undertaking it involves some of the patch work done by work crews when servicing our utilities. Perhaps it will take a while for that project to be awarded (and winter is coming) but maybe folks need to have that explained to them.

We don’t even have to go into the bus situation and why it needs to be addressed.

As breathtaking and as necessary as some of these upgrades to our sets are going to be, we’ve got to pay attention to those “little” details while the big changes occur. While some will not care initially about the public’s opinion on this matter, they will eventually vote – with their wallets first as they continue to lament for the good old days and then in the booth.

André Natta is the managing editor of The Terminal.