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Now all that's needed in that area is a modest, but modern football stadium on or near the UAB campus. (CB4029 is my hero!!!)

So, it's going to block the view of Children's from the ball park?

That's disappointing.

(12-18-2013 12:59 PM)Smaug Wrote:  So, it's going to block the view of Children's from the ball park?

That's disappointing.

Hopefully, the design committee will reject the project as is, and make them come up with a more neighborhood friendly design. Condos would be a lot better than rentals too...........they are usually kept up better in the long run.

(12-18-2013 01:09 PM)Bham Blazer Wrote:  

(12-18-2013 12:59 PM)Smaug Wrote:  So, it's going to block the view of Children's from the ball park?

That's disappointing.

Hopefully, the design committee will reject the project as is, and make them come up with a more neighborhood friendly design. Condos would be a lot better than rentals too...........they are usually kept up better in the long run.

I like to see the area growing, but they are beginning to pack too much residential in the space available. I foresee ruined views, parking and crowding issues. What we really need is more restaurants, bars and retail.

...and of course a lovely new football stadium to anchor the UAB end.

(12-18-2013 01:17 PM)DragonClaw Wrote:  

(12-18-2013 01:09 PM)Bham Blazer Wrote:  

(12-18-2013 12:59 PM)Smaug Wrote:  So, it's going to block the view of Children's from the ball park?

That's disappointing.

Hopefully, the design committee will reject the project as is, and make them come up with a more neighborhood friendly design. Condos would be a lot better than rentals too...........they are usually kept up better in the long run.

I like to see the area growing, but they are beginning to pack too much residential in the space available. I foresee ruined views, parking and crowding issues. What we really need is more restaurants, bars and retail.

...and of course a lovely new football stadium to anchor the UAB end.

Meanwhile, some evil bastage in Tuscaloosa whose initials are PBJ is reading this, rubbing his hands together and saying to himself...NEVER!!!!

If this development is too dense for you guys, then give up. It's only going to accelerate down there, and the buildings are only going to get bigger.

The Watts development has been in the works for some time... plus others just like it adjacent to this property. You can even see it in the last two versions of the UAB Master Plan.

On the whole this is a good thing. The ratio of residential to commercial is going to seem lopsided, but you have to have a critical mass of residential to support commercial development that doesn't close at 5PM when everyone leaves UAB. I don't think rentals are a bad thing, but as someone who wants to buy instead of rent, I hope they do a condo development down there soon. I'd like to move back downtown/Southside.

I agree on the whole it's a good thing, I'm just disappointed it's going to block the view of Children's from the ball park.

If you don't have people living in the area to help make up a local client base, you won't get the restaurants and bars, let alone things like grocery stores. It's a good sign that the downtown revitalization is working.

I live in a 450+ unit, 27-story apartment building in downtown Charlotte. This one and another unit across town were built to be condos until the mortgage crisis hit and they made them apartments. Right now they are constructing a 21-story apartment building next door.

First thing, forget cars. I've walked 10 blocks to work and 2 blocks to work, and my grocery store is 7 blocks away. Is someone living near Regions going to walk to Compass Corporate or the Service Center or anywhere on Northside? They'll give it a go. Whether walking sticks depends on the city. Parking lots here run $200+ per month (of course, an apartment comes with a spot in a deck) and are on the fringes of the city. Even if I drove there'd be nowhere to park nearby. But, in addition to buses, there are "trolley" lines (on wheels, not real trolleys) that are free to ride. I think you have to remake the city to not just be pedestrian-friendly, but vehicle-unfriendly. They choke the streets here so you can't go more than 10 mph on a weekday if you wanted.

Second, you're just not going to get enough people downtown to keep everything open after work hours. Some things do stay open, but most restaurants are family-owned and open from 11am - 3pm M-F (and stay in business, so they must do well). But, that's part of it when you live downtown. Charlotte had the unique opportunity to redesign everything from scratch 20 years ago. Birmingham doesn't have the unified vision of its business or government leaders, so it's going to go piecemeal. Doing it that way, many changes are going to come about the hard way. But has Birmingham ever NOT done things the hard way?

(12-18-2013 01:17 PM)DragonClaw Wrote:  

(12-18-2013 01:09 PM)Bham Blazer Wrote:  

(12-18-2013 12:59 PM)Smaug Wrote:  So, it's going to block the view of Children's from the ball park?

That's disappointing.

Hopefully, the design committee will reject the project as is, and make them come up with a more neighborhood friendly design. Condos would be a lot better than rentals too...........they are usually kept up better in the long run.

I like to see the area growing, but they are beginning to pack too much residential in the space available. I foresee ruined views, parking and crowding issues. What we really need is more restaurants, bars and retail.

...and of course a lovely new football stadium to anchor the UAB end.

I'd agree, but there's a lot of empty storefronts at cityville apartments that show it's not worth it to include much retail/bar space.

There needs to be a tipping point. People don't stay downtown for food/bars because there are no food/bars there.

Anyways, I think the entry of many more developments in the area is very good. I've got a number of young professional friends who all want to live downtown or highlands but just can't find much in the right price range.