Tag Archives: Fair Park

On the agenda: Hotels and contracts

Posted on January 4, 2011 | Leave a comment

Considering how many items are on currently on consent this morning, you’d assume that the first Birmingham City Council meeting of 2011 should move as quickly as the last one of the year. We already know that this will most likely not be the case because of the expected proposal from Mayor Bell about to use that expected $9 million mid-year budget surplus.

Items 4-27 cover an insanely large amount of properties being taxed for overgrown weeds, meaning that by the time you get to page 32 you may not be in the mood to look at Item 29 (it allows the city to enter into an agreement with ESPN Regional Television to help publicize the BBVA Compass Bowl for the next four years – beginning with this year’s edition.

Preparations for this year’s game is well underway (especially since it’s scheduled to take place this Saturday). Continue reading →

Mayor in car accident Tuesday AM, is OK

Posted on July 7, 2009 | Leave a comment

This morning Birmingham’s mayor, Larry Langford, was involved in a car accident on Ensley Avenue. According to several reports (and his appearance during this morning’s City Council meeting), he was uninjured while the vehicle he was traveling in was damaged.

While The Birmingham News simply stated that he was on his way to work, some people thought to read into the location of the accident, including Birmingham Weekly. The mayor reported to the council that he was on the city’s west side in order to check on the progress of the Fair Park redevelopment project currently underway, a statement relayed to followers of the city’s Twitter profile (including us).

Photo: acnatta/Flickr

On the agenda: delay, delay, delay…

Posted on March 10, 2009 | 1 comment

Based on this post on The Birmingham News’ breaking news blog, I’d have to say that today should be an interesting one in Birmingham City Council chambers. The councilors will no doubt have a response to Mayor Langford’s latest campaign. Another thing to watch will be the reaction from councilors to the request being made by residents of the Glen Iris neighborhood that we posted about yesterday.

Item 8 is one that could be important to watch as it will be a proposal by the mayor to change the boundaries of the city’s urban enterprise zones. These zones do include large sections on the city’s west side, most notably near the old Ensley Works plant and, interestingly enough, nearby Fair Park. Item 17 asks for approval of a contract with Goodwyn Mills and Cawood, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $2,819,300.00 for work to finally begin on the city’s long promised Intermodal Transit Facility. The money is available from federal sources, though it may lead to a what comes first question, among others.

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Posted in On the agenda

Tagged City Council, economic development, facility, Fair Park, information, Larry Langford, Transit, urban enterprise zone

Fair Park Locomotive moving to Sloss

Posted on February 11, 2009 | 2 comments

Birmingham’s Fair Park has long been home to this 1917 “war baby” steam locomotive. Well, on February 22 it’ll be settling into its new home on the grounds of the Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark site. It is the result of an effort led by Mountain Book mayor Terry Oden to raise the $150,000 necessary to pay for the transport of the locomotive by flatbed railcar to its new home. The Birmingham News ran a piece in mid-January with details for those interested in helping out with the move.

BTW: If you wanted to check out some photos from the demolition of the raceway grandstand from last month, there’s a photo set courtesy of Bob Farley over in The Gallery.

Photo: Courtesy of Sloss Furnaces

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Posted in history

Tagged 1917, Alabama, Birmingham, engine, Fair Park, historic, locomotive, move, National Historic Landmark, Sloss Furnaces

Five Points West’s businesses are getting organized

Posted on May 9, 2008 | Leave a comment

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…

Hope springs eternal on the west side

Posted on April 10, 2008 | Comments Off

Fair Park revitalization photo - Bob Farley/f8Photo Tuesday’s vote dedicating approximately $48 million for the redevelopment of the Fair Park property on the city’s west side raised some interesting questions, and hope. It might also be raising concerns as just under $1 billion has been now earmarked for projects across the city since Mayor Langford’s inauguration late last year.

I chimed in with my thoughts over on my Birmingham early this morning. Check ’em out and then add yours to the mix.

BTW, did anyone notice that one of the stations that still has a contract to advertise the Spring Fling at the arena after WJLD’s contract was pulled just happened to be WATV? We’re just saying…

Photo credit: Bob Farley/f8Photo

Comments Off on Hope springs eternal on the west side

Posted in Commentary, My Birmingham

Tagged AL, Alabama, Birmingham, editorial, Fair Park, link, opinion, plans, redevelopment

Langford’s Fair Park plan awaits Council approval Tuesday

Posted on April 4, 2008 | 3 comments

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.

Continue reading →

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Posted in 35208, City Council

Tagged AL, Alabama, audio, Birmingham, Fair Park, Five Points West, information, Larry Langford, plan, presentation, proposal