Let's not forget that those of us in the Music City are also blessed with:
1. Great Geography (Tennessee touches 8 states and we are smack dab in the Middle of a N/S and E/W Interstate Hub.
2. Incredibly Progressive political,business, People inside the city (not so much the rest of the state) for about a hundred years.
3. History of consistent Homogeneous Race and Labor Relations.
This concludes our Chamber of Commerce Message.
I think a big factor is civic leadership. Seems to me that there's only 2 type of elected officials. There are one's who want to do what's best for their city and region such as bring in new businesses and ideas. The other want to cater to the ones who voted them in so they can keep their title and the benefits of the position. Monroe and Shreveport are a prime example of the latter.
Birmingham has made a lot of progress in the last 5 years or so. While Bham isn't doing as well as Nashville, the city (and metro) is moving in the right direction. The new Baron's stadium, renovation of several of the historic buildings downtown, growth at UAB, and the BJCC arena renovation and the new football stadium have all been positive changes.
Birmingham definitely fell behind, but I think that is more of 90's story. Bham had/has a lot of problems similar to rust belt cities (decline of steel and manufacturing) that it has been having to work through.
clt says both cities are fine, but are not in the Charlotte, Atlanta, Miami level in the south.
I would take Nashville over Charlotte and Atlanta any day. Ive never been to Miami so I cant speak on that one. Nashville is one of my favorite American cities, especially in the SE. Bham has made a lot of progress over the last decade or so. It's definitely a much better place than it was when I was in school there.
(12-23-2018 09:00 PM)BlazintheATL Wrote: [ -> ]I would take Nashville over Charlotte and Atlanta any day. Ive never been to Miami so I cant speak on that one. Nashville is one of my favorite American cities, especially in the SE. Bham has made a lot of progress over the last decade or so. It's definitely a much better place than it was when I was in school there.
clt thanks you for your opinion, and looks forward to your travel show.
Birmingham is doing okay for itself. We could be doing better, but we're being held back by the state of Alabama. I have faith in the current city leadership. The issue is Birmingham is dealing with the sins of the previous generation. There are still plenty of older white suburbanites that will not go into downtown Birmingham because they are afraid of black people. That is changing with the current generations. Birmingham is still a very segregated area. It is going to take my generation quite some time to fix the issues created by our elders. Not only do we have to compete with Atlanta, Nashville, Chattanooga, etc for job creation in the region, but Birmingham also has to compete with the minor suburban mini-cities that were created due to white flight. Every one of those mini-cities have their own school systems and governments. Montgomery, our state capital does not do anything to help out our city. They tend to help out Tuscaloosa(football and law school), Huntsville (NASA and military), Mobile (Bay area), and Montgomery(capital) before they will think about helping Birmingham.
That being said, Birmingham still has better BBQ and Beer than Nashville.
(12-23-2018 10:03 PM)Dracorex Wrote: [ -> ]Birmingham is doing okay for itself. We could be doing better, but we're being held back by the state of Alabama. I have faith in the current city leadership. The issue is Birmingham is dealing with the sins of the previous generation. There are still plenty of older white suburbanites that will not go into downtown Birmingham because they are afraid of black people. That is changing with the current generations. Birmingham is still a very segregated area. It is going to take my generation quite some time to fix the issues created by our elders. Not only do we have to compete with Atlanta, Nashville, Chattanooga, etc for job creation in the region, but Birmingham also has to compete with the minor suburban mini-cities that were created due to white flight. Every one of those mini-cities have their own school systems and governments. Montgomery, our state capital does not do anything to help out our city. They tend to help out Tuscaloosa(football and law school), Huntsville (NASA and military), Mobile (Bay area), and Montgomery(capital) before they will think about helping Birmingham.
That being said, Birmingham still has better BBQ and Beer than Nashville.
Yeah, but we have better hot chicken :)
(12-23-2018 06:47 PM)JxGx78 Wrote: [ -> ]Birmingham has made a lot of progress in the last 5 years or so. While Bham isn't doing as well as Nashville, the city (and metro) is moving in the right direction. The new Baron's stadium, renovation of several of the historic buildings downtown, growth at UAB, and the BJCC arena renovation and the new football stadium have all been positive changes.
Birmingham definitely fell behind, but I think that is more of 90's story. Bham had/has a lot of problems similar to rust belt cities (decline of steel and manufacturing) that it has been having to work through.
That’s about how I see it. Birmingham’s decline was decades in the making. Any resurgence will take a while. However, as you said, there are signs that things are improving.
I moved back in 2010, and the biggest thing that I’ve noticed while I’ve been here is that more and more people have started to give a damn again. Nothing can happen without that. It’s going to take a long time, but I’m hopeful. It’s too bad that my career path is taking me away from the city. I’d love to watch it play out it person.
(12-24-2018 09:48 AM)ArmyBlazer Wrote: [ -> ] (12-23-2018 06:47 PM)JxGx78 Wrote: [ -> ]Birmingham has made a lot of progress in the last 5 years or so. While Bham isn't doing as well as Nashville, the city (and metro) is moving in the right direction. The new Baron's stadium, renovation of several of the historic buildings downtown, growth at UAB, and the BJCC arena renovation and the new football stadium have all been positive changes.
Birmingham definitely fell behind, but I think that is more of 90's story. Bham had/has a lot of problems similar to rust belt cities (decline of steel and manufacturing) that it has been having to work through.
That’s about how I see it. Birmingham’s decline was decades in the making. Any resurgence will take a while. However, as you said, there are signs that things are improving.
I moved back in 2010, and the biggest thing that I’ve noticed while I’ve been here is that more and more people have started to give a damn again. Nothing can happen without that. It’s going to take a long time, but I’m hopeful. It’s too bad that my career path is taking me away from the city. I’d love to watch it play out it person.
I agree, there is a sense of civic pride now. Little things like "its nice to have you in Birmingham' and "BHM" stickers are visible manifestations of it. Millennials also seem willing to move back to start families. Bham is going to be a success story of the 2020s.
(12-23-2018 10:03 PM)Dracorex Wrote: [ -> ]Birmingham is doing okay for itself. We could be doing better, but we're being held back by the state of Alabama. I have faith in the current city leadership. The issue is Birmingham is dealing with the sins of the previous generation. There are still plenty of older white suburbanites that will not go into downtown Birmingham because they are afraid of black people. That is changing with the current generations. Birmingham is still a very segregated area. It is going to take my generation quite some time to fix the issues created by our elders. Not only do we have to compete with Atlanta, Nashville, Chattanooga, etc for job creation in the region, but Birmingham also has to compete with the minor suburban mini-cities that were created due to white flight. Every one of those mini-cities have their own school systems and governments. Montgomery, our state capital does not do anything to help out our city. They tend to help out Tuscaloosa(football and law school), Huntsville (NASA and military), Mobile (Bay area), and Montgomery(capital) before they will think about helping Birmingham.
That being said, Birmingham still has better BBQ and Beer than Nashville.
Racism is everywhere from Atlanta to Charlotte, it's not unique to Birmingham. The difference from what you see in Charlotte and Atlanta compared to Birmingham is that folks aren't willing to let racism stop $$$$$ but in Alabama folks don't care. If it means going broke to NOT risk black people from moving out by me then we'll just be broke. Alabama is so tribal, I lived many places but this is STRONG in Alabama. Birmingham has to have about 20 municipalities and all of them started for similar reasons. None of them work together for the greater good of the metro regions it's all about me and mine!
Not having a state income tax is HUGE. If a company is moving somewhere the decision makers know that they can effectively give themselves a huge pay raise by choosing a no income tax state.
Florida, Tennessee, and Texas have no state income tax. 14 of the top 25 fastest growing cities (and 6 of the top 10) are in those three states.
If you get the businesses ($$$) the culture, arts, and nightlife will follow. It's really that simple.
Top Southeast cities in no particular order...
Asheville, NC
Greenville, SC
Charleston, SC
Lexington, KY
Nashville, TN
I’m not a fan of Miami, Atlanta or Charlotte.
Don’t buy the writer’s case for comparing these two cities, at all.
Wildly different cities in terms of demographics and economy. No way that, in the 80s, you would expect a majority black industrial city already on the decline to follow a similar trajectory to a much larger 3/4 white state capital based on tourism and commerce.
The big thing is that Nashville never had to worry about major white flight like other Southetn cities because the city has always been 3/4 White.
(12-24-2018 08:25 PM)rileylives Wrote: [ -> ]Top Southeast cities in no particular order...
Asheville, NC
Greenville, SC
Charleston, SC
Lexington, KY
Nashville, TN
I’m not a fan of Miami, Atlanta or Charlotte.
clt says you provided a list of towns,
I absolutely love Nashville. That said, I am very proud of the progress in Bham and enjoying the resurgence of our city hand in hand with UAB.
(12-25-2018 07:24 AM)ghostofclt! Wrote: [ -> ] (12-24-2018 08:25 PM)rileylives Wrote: [ -> ]Top Southeast cities in no particular order...
Asheville, NC
Greenville, SC
Charleston, SC
Lexington, KY
Nashville, TN
I’m not a fan of Miami, Atlanta or Charlotte.
clt says you provided a list of towns,
Yes, that are all very nice. I'm a chill person, I'm not really down for traffic and nightlife.
(12-25-2018 10:05 AM)ATTALLABLAZE Wrote: [ -> ]I absolutely love Nashville. That said, I am very proud of the progress in Bham and enjoying the resurgence of our city hand in hand with UAB.
I like Nashville too. That's why my wife and I bought a home here.
But as a now 3-yr resident of Nashville, I can tell everybody that Nashville (metro area) is a city
under stress. It's gotten so crowded here, some of the shine is seriously wearing off. Grocery stores can't keep groceries in stock, roads are very crowded, restaurants are overwhelmed, etc.... Moving here from the Dallas metro area has been a real eye opener for us. Clearly, the Nashville area is growing too fast, and the infrastructure and resources are strained here.
Just a warning to anyone who thinks they are going to show up in Nashville and find Utopia.The word is already out.