Tag Archives: Main Street Birmingham

ONB announcement means Main Street Birmingham changes

Posted on October 10, 2011 | 1 comment

Fleming and TaskerThe news became official this morning as Operation New Birmingham (ONB) announced they’d named a new president and CEO. David Fleming, the founding executive director of Main Street Birmingham (MSB), will take the reigns of the downtown revitalization organization effective November 1.

It can be viewed as a homecoming of sorts for Fleming, who left ONB as its vice president for planning and urban development in 2004 to launch MSB. He was one of four candidates considered for the position which has been vacant since the departure of Michael Calvert earlier this year.

MSB released its own statement later in the day naming Elizabeth Barbaree-Tasker as the organization’s interim executive director. The seven year-old neighborhood revitalization organization has been enjoying success recently, including an arts incubator in Woodlawn that hosted an open house this past weekend as part of the WOODLAWNx after-party for TEDxBirmingham.

Incidentally, I’ve got some thoughts on Fleming, his new job and what it means for The Magic City over on Dear Birmingham.

Photo: left, David Fleming; right, Elizabeth Barbaree Tasker.

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Posted in Business, News

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On the agenda: A new home for the Birmingham Batmobile?

Posted on March 1, 2011 | Leave a comment

Birmingham_Batman. Courtesy of BhamWikiThe most interesting item on this morning’s Birmingham City Council agenda involves the Batmobile. Back in 2007 we linked to a post written by Lou Anders about Birmingham’s Batman – Willie Perry.

The car that Perry drove around while providing assistance to those in need has been the focus of a lot of attention in recent years. Today, so long as the issue isn’t deferred again, it will find a new home. Item 2 on today’s agenda hopes to accomplish just that as it would allow the mayor to enter into an agreement with Old Car Heaven to house the car for an indefinite period of time.

This morning’s agenda also includes potential approvals for contracts with companies to demolish structures throughout the city (Items 9-14) as well as a funding request that would allow Main Street Birmingham to move forward with plans to develop an arts incubator in the Woodlawn commercial district (Item 6).

It should be an interesting meeting to watch… The live stream begins with pre-council at 9 a.m.

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Posted in On the agenda, Quirky

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We take a look at coworking tonight in Woodlawn

Posted on July 14, 2010 | 1 comment

Beaufort Coworking. khawkins04/FlickrAre you interested in seeing if coworking is right for you? Want to learn more about the options that currently exist in Birmingham, AL and the metropolitan area? Do you want to help us determine how or if coworking can fit into a vision of a physical home for The Terminal?

These and other questions will be the focus of a meeting taking place tonight in the Woodlawn neighborhood at Woodrow Hall (directions). We’re teaming with Main Street Birmingham to host this BYOB networking event from 6-7:30 p.m. Networking starts a 6 p.m.; the program at 6:30 p.m.

This is a follow-up from our coworking interest survey from this spring (which we’ve re-opened for those who are now learning about it). We’ve shared the results on a special section of the site as well as a video featuring some of coworking’s pioneers explaining exactly what it is that makes it different from just sharing office space.

We’re looking forward to seeing some of you there tonight (or hearing from you via the survey)!

Photo: Beaufort Coworking. khawkins04/Flickr

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Posted in Events, The Terminal

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Vote for the Junction… cause it matters

Posted on September 30, 2009 | 1 comment

Tuxedo Junction photoThe folks over at Main Street Birmingham (MSB) submitted a photo taken in front of the Nixon Building in Birmingham’s Ensley community as one of the 1,900 entries in this year’s National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Places That Matter Photo Contest. The photo is the latest piece in a campaign to raise funds for the renovation of the building into a cultural center for the community and the region.

Yesterday it was announced that the photo was picked to be one of the 12 finalists! You’ve got until October 9 to sign up and vote once-per-day for the photo.

MSB’s got additional instructions on their website as well as a rendering of what the completed project will look like when completed.

Just in case you’re interested, here’s the link to photos and descriptions of all the finalists.

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Posted in Take a moment

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Plans for cultural center in Ensley move forward

Posted on June 26, 2009 | Leave a comment

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.

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Posted in The City

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Preservation Training hits the Magic City

Posted on January 15, 2009 | Leave a comment

07162006 Atlanta Life Company neon sign.jpgThere are a bunch of preservationists who’ve been visiting Birmingham since Saturday and tomorrow they want to show you what they’ve learned. Tne National Trust for Historic Preservation, The Alabama Trust for Historic Preservation and Main Street Birmingham have been conducting the current Preservation Leadership Training session in downtown’s Historic 4th Avenue Business District focusing on the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge. Participants will use what they’ve learned in workshops, lectures, tours, team projects and role playing to develop plans for rehabilitating the building. You may want to venture over to the Lodge tomorrow (Friday) evening at 5:30 p.m. as the proposals are presented for what can be done to best preserve and use this historic structure.

If you want an idea of what some of the attendees are thinking about their visit and their experiences, check out this post on the Trust’s official blog courtesy of Dr. Kimberly Ellis of Pittsburgh’s Historic Hill Initiative.

Photo: Alabama Life neon sign on Lodge building. acnatta/Flickr

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Posted in The City

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The Junction’s about to start jumping again

Posted on October 17, 2008 | Leave a comment

Tuxedo_Junction-1. argusfoto/Flickr

Photo: Tuxedo_Junction 1. argusfoto/Flickr.

Ensley‘s Tuxedo Junction is right on the edge of a revitalization that promises to rejuvenate the city’s Western area. Last month, one of its cultural landmarks moved one step closer to once again becoming a hub for culture. Main Street Birmingham was awarded a grant of $7,000 from the Alabama State Council on the Arts (ASCA) for the planning of the future Nixon Cultural Center at Tuxedo Junction. The planned home for the center (pictured above) is famous for its upper floor ballroom, immortalized by Erskine Hawkins hit song Tuxedo Junction. When finished it will provide cultural and educational opportunities for local residents, including those slated to move into the Tuxedo Court HOPE VI development and visitors to the Magic City.

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Posted in Art

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