Tag Archives: Alabama

Random Shots: Federal Reserve renovations continue

FedX - Bob Farley/f8Photo

Bob Farley/f8Photo

Renovations and continue on the old Federal Reserve Building at the corner of 5th Avenue and 18th Street North by Melaver, Inc. of Savannah, GA. According to the developer’s, website,

“…the Federal Reserve Building’s historic façade will be restored, and Melaver has committed to seeking LEED-NC Silver certification, assuring tenants of the most modern, efficient, technologically advanced and productive workspace available in the Birmingham MSA.”

The building will house a hotel, restaurant, convention, retail and office space.

A look back: May 14

1887:

The Birmingham Chamber of Commerce was founded at a meeting at O’Brien’s Opera House.

1961:

A Greyhound Bus carrying Freedom Riders was met by a violent mob and no police in downtown Birmingham on Mother’s Day. Check out this entry on Wikipedia to learn more about the historic journey.

Courtesy: Bhamwiki.com logo

Rebuild Bethel marches forward

Rebuild Bethel website screenshot

Screenshot of Rebuild Bethel campaign website. 

We haven’t heard a lot about historic Bethel Baptist Church in recent months – the historic building granted National Historic Landmark status in 2005 – not the congregation’s current structure – despite a pledge by Mayor Langford to provide up to $1 million in city funds towards its renovation. Hopefully that will change in the near future as efforts to complete this project continue in the city’s Collegeville neighborhood.

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Random Shots: A bird’s eye view

A bird's eye view Bob Farley/f8PhotoAs a photographer I’m always trying to find a different vantage point, looking for a new angle on a common subject. I recently had the opportunity to make some photographs from the unique view a helicopter provides.

From my view high above the city, I could see how physically close Birmingham’s industrial past and its more white collar present are to each other. Minutes by car and seconds by helicopter I could go from the corporate world of downtown to the heavy industry on its borders. Click on the image to the left (or here) to view some of the shots taken; otherwise, keep reading after the jump…

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On the agenda: Festival season’s upon us

This morning’s council agenda reminds us that the festival season is already here. Two items on the agenda cover two of Birmingham’s more popular festivals. Item 21 is on consent (and hopefully it stays there) and provides the Function at Tuxedo Junction Jazz Festival $27,000 for its 2008 edition in Erskine Hawkins Park in the city’s Ensley community. Item 26 is also on consent and amends the contract between the city and the organization responsible for City Stages, increasing the amount received by the festival from $200,000 t0 $700,000.

Item 66 should be an opportunity to remind people about this Friday’s Relay for Life of Urban Birmingham being held at Legion Field. BTW, it goes from 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. and there’s still time to give.

There are also items that call for a feasibility study to determine a location for the proposed Negro League Baseball Association Museum (item 33 – there is already a nationally designated Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, MO); as well as one (item 27 – also on consent) that could lead to some interesting discussion considering one of the stories in today’s Birmingham News.

Check out the agenda and the online broadcast of the meeting on the city’s website.

A look back: May 13

1951:

First Lutheran Church dedicated its current building on Highland Avenue.

2006:

The 5th annual Buck Creek Festival was held in historic downtown Helena.

Courtesy: Bhamwiki.com logo

David Neal’s OK; but he’s suing Fox 6

UPDATE: If you didn’t already know that Neal is a weekend meteorologist for CBS42 (since 2009), he’s also working for WeatherNationTV.

Well, we finally know what happened to former Fox 6 chief meteorologist David Neal.

The popular weatherman has not been on the air for several weeks, and based on this afternoon’s post by The Birmingham News, we know it’s not by choice.

They also have a link to a PDF of the circuit court filing containing the allegations being made.