Welcome to 101 Birmingham.
by admin
101 is an open-source collaborative developing innovative and visionary solutions to improve the urban experience in Birmingham. We are after the answer of one simple question, “Birmingham would be a better place if….”. Many organizations have asked this question and many are acting on those answers, yet the ability to visualize possibilities, take action, and connect people striving for the same outcome have yet to materialize. It is important for a “place” to exist where ideas and solutions are not hoarded but open for everyone to interpret and development.
101’s goal is to produce 101 actual suggestions for improving Birmingham. These encompass a broad range of topics; drawing on the physical, social, environmental, political and aesthetic realms. They range from one-liners to complex propositions. Many propose new physical forms while others focus on restructuring existing organizations or policies.
Do you have an idea about how to make Birmingham a better place to live, work, and play? Tell us about it! either post a comment or join us at one of our meetings at 6:00 on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month, located at Temple Studios on the 2nd floor of Woodrow Hall, 5504 1st Ave North, Birmingham AL.
Comments
Build a mailbox store (like Mailboxes Etc) but let it serve homeless people for little or no money to get a mailbox. There are so many services that homeless people need, but that require an actual mailing address. (Not to mention jobs and job applications.) Turn this business into a center for homeless by filling it out with a computer center for email and internet access. And what if there were free showers and a laundromat available there, too? (Soap & other toiletries, towels, laundry detergent provided.)
Another idea: Turn one of the schools that’s no longer being used into a shelter for homeless youth.
In reference to Shaun’s comment…..What neighborhood would you suggest for this “post office-shower/laundry” facility be? There are already many homeless shelters and churches that provide these services.
We need to clean up Birmingham…I think the city should fine apartment complexes…businesses, etc. that do not keep their property clean….have you driven around Birmingham and actually noticed all the trash on the sides of the roads…this is one of the filthiest cities in the Southeast…I, at one time, would pick up trash at the intersection of Crestwood Blvd…5th Ave South every Sunday morning…I quit because I was fighting a losing battle….drive down 5th Ave in Avondale…it is pathetic…
The next meeting is on April First. I wonder if we can talk about good april fool’s ideas, too.
No, but seriously, I think Birmingham would be a better place if there were a way for outsiders and tourists to easily navigate this city.
Maybe we need more signs. “White Rich Neighborhood” or “Ignored Projects” or “Baptists Only” … That may help.
I think as always we need more recreation places that are free and workshops for younger people and focus on things for those who have no qualifications.
Birmingham is a city blessed with potential. Unfortunately, much of that potential is not harnessed. Instead of trying to build a new Birmingham (i.e., the proposed dome and new entertainment district), we should focus on improving Birmingham’s excellent existing infrastructure. Why?
1) It is cheaper. The proposed dome and entertainment district has a price tag in excess of $600 million. I think Birmingham’s existing infrastructure can be improved with a FRACTION of that amount.
2) It would maintain Birmingham’s history and identity. Birmingham should offer something different than cities such as Atlanta, Nashville, and Charlotte. This “something different” already exists to a small degree in areas like Five Points South. We need to expand upon these places.
3) It’s easier. Many area of Birmingham already have sparks of life that could ignite with a little effort (Five Points South, Lakeview, the Loft District, the Civil Rights District, etc.).
The first step in this improvement is simple and obvious: Improve Five Points South. It’s the cultural hub of Birmingham, and the place most ripe renewal. Here are 5 simple ideas for improving the area:
1) Fix the Christmas lights that decorate the trees circling the Five Points intersection. Last time I was there, over half of the lights were dead. The area appears neglected when only 1 out of 10 trees is illuminated. Five Points looks great when all of the trees are sparkling at night. Fixing this problem would cost hardly anything and would make the area more appealing.
2) Provide incentives for mixed-use condos/lofts/other residential structures in the area. More people living in Five Points South would make the area both safer and more vibrant.
3) Establish a CAP patrol in Five Points. This would help the area’s image and, hopefully, make it safer.
4) Create a revolving fund dedicated to the betterment of Five Points South. Revolving funds basically finance themselves through their revenue. This fund would purchase abandoned buildings, renovate them, and then sell them. They would use this revenue from the sell to continue the operation. Check out the success of the Oakleigh Venture Revolving Fund in Mobile: http://www.ovrf.org/whoweare.html
5) Fix the Birmingham Police substation at the intersection. It looks neglected with its board-up window and graffiti-covered walls. What kind of image does such a police station convey?
I think as always we need more recreation places that are free and workshops for younger people and focus on things for those who have no qualifications.
In reference to Shaun’s comment…..What neighborhood would you suggest for this “post office-shower/laundry” facility be? There are already many homeless shelters and churches that provide these services.
In reference to Shaun’s comment…..What neighborhood would you suggest for this “post office-shower/laundry” facility be? There are already many homeless shelters and churches that provide these services.
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