Birmingham Discussion Thread

[Sulley]

A good solution would be a large underground parking deck with a park on top!

[crash]

Originally Posted by DallasTexan

A good solution would be a large underground parking deck with a park on top!

QFT!

[GoUp1]

I wonder if the underground deck would flood if the sump pumps failed?

[Dystopos]

The expense of underground deck doesn't seem warranted in this decade, but a rooftop park with wide grassy public ramps could be cool.

[B'ham Bound]

Originally Posted by Dystopos

The expense of underground deck doesn't seem warranted in this decade, but a rooftop park with wide grassy public ramps could be cool.

I believe it would be feasible here. They seem to be working quite well in Nashville.

[Blazer85]

I dont know... if we have trouble building large highrise foundations, I think underground parking could pose some problems as well.

[D1136]

Confirmed. UAB still plans to move forward with a building on that block that has the vacant Capt D, Arby's and McDonalds (to vacate Aug 3) even though it would have to be scaled down from the joint venture proposal. Would still be a women's center and possibly infants as well. UAB will tear down the old McDonalds within 30 days of August 3 (McDonald's doesn't want to confuse their patrons with two buildings) and has the ability to take possession of all the other parcels on that block at will. The new signage on the McDonalds on 5th Ave S and 15th Street went up yesterday afternoon.

[B'ham Bound]

Originally Posted by Blazer85

I dont know... if we have trouble building large highrise foundations, I think underground parking could pose some problems as well.

True, there might be problems with building one... But then again, there might not be. No way of knowing until surverying is done. However, I'd imagine a simple deck two to three levels underground, at the least, wouldn't be such a hard task.

[GoUp1]

It only takes about 20 feet down to get to water in some parts of this town. I think a nice pond in the middle of a park is feasible. Well, the Harbert Plaza still takes on water to this day. There is a permeable membrane of steel between the shoring and the foundation wall. It drains down and there are 3 sump pumps that pump constantly max at 500 gallons per minute. If the pumps stopped, there would be roughly 36,000,000 ft pounds of pressure forcing up on the concrete. So, to insure it doesn't crack up, there are 3 popups that would allow water up into the parking deck which is I think 4 stories deep. The water would slowly fill the deck, until ServPro gets there to pump it out and someone can fix the pumps. There is an emergency generator of course. It would only be if all the pumps fail that there should be a problem, then it would rise slowly. Don't go running up the ramp if you hear 3 popping noises. But if you go deep in Bham, you're probably going to need a big squeegie. Have fun diggin'. I hold myself harmless that any of this is true, but it is a rumor.

[skycaptain]

Guys- Don't sweat the details about the foundation. If they can build 50 story buildings in New Orleans, surely Birmingham's soil can support one or two.

[euxc]

Quick question... what is the largest Baptist Church in Alabama? Is it in the Birmingham metro or down in Mobile? Thanks.

[DevinLee]

Actual building size or congregation size?

[euxc]

Heh. You'd think it would be the same, wouldn't you? I guess the biggest congregation would be better. Thanks.

[Blazer85]

Looks like finally the Cherry Ave-Coalburg Rd section of I-22 made it through the letting period without being withdrawn. Maybe the bid will actually be awarded so work can begin on that segment.

Also important to note that $8 million more was recently secured for the Northern Beltline.

[GoUp1]

Hunterstreet Baptist has about 7,000 (Hoover). Shades Mountain has about 10,000 I think (Vestavia). There are some big ones in Mobile, but don't know that area. Most of the big ones are Southern Bap. You can call the Birmingham Baptist Assoc at 599-3245.

[Randy Sandford]

I'm always a hesitant to rely on church membership rolls as a reliable indicator of a church's size since some churches rarely purge their membership lists which could still include a lot of people who no longer attend or who have moved or passed away. The following webpage lists the average attendance of Alabama's largest churches. The data is from 2000, but I'm sure the numbers haven't changed too much since then, at least for most of the churches listed. At the top of the page it says "a major new study of megachurches is underway...watch for a major update of this database in the coming months."

Here is how the largest churches in Alabama rank by average attendance:

Frazer Memorial United Methodist Church, Montgomery---4,392
Shades Mountain Baptist Church, Birmingham---4,000
Cottage Hill Baptist Church, Mobile---3,500
Cathedral of the Cross, Birmingham---3,200
Gardendale's First Baptist Church, Birmingham---3,000
Hunter Street Baptist Church, Birmingham---3,000
Briarwood Presbyterian Church, Birmingham---2,600
Metropolitan Church of God, Birmingham---2,500
Christ United Methodist Church, Mobile---2,156
16th Street Baptist, Birmingham---2,000
Church of the Highlands, Birmingham---2,000
Dawson Memorial Baptist Church, Birmingham---2,000
Lakeside Baptist Church, Birmingham---2,000
The Church at Brook Hills, Birmingham---2,000
Dauphin Way Baptist Church, Mobile---2,000
Word Alive International Outreach, Oxford---2,000
Harvest Church of God, Anniston---1,800


Two churches were listed without any attendance figures:

Canterbury United Methodist Church, Birmingham
Whitesburg Baptist Church, Huntsville

[euxc]

Randy, could you post the link to that website? Thanks for all the help.

Looks like Shades Mountain and Cottage Hill are the two largest...

[Randy Sandford]

Originally Posted by euxc

Randy, could you post the link to that website? Thanks for all the help.

Looks like Shades Mountain and Cottage Hill are the two largest...

Sorry about that. I intended to post it last night.

http://hirr.hartsem.edu/org/faith_me...e_alabama.html

[Blazer85]

New Pro Basketball League for Birmingham... sounds promising. Here's a little note from their site (www.bham-magicians.com).


The secret is out! The City of Birmingham has been awarded an American Basketball Association (ABA) expansion team for 2005-06. As owner of the new team I wanted to officially notify each of you of this exciting new venture for Birmingham.

The new ABA, the league that forced a merger with the National Basketball Association (NBA) in 1976 is back with 35 teams that will play this season. Birmingham and several other cities will start play in November 2005. Some of the cities Birmingham will be affiliated with in the ABA are; Nashville, Greenville MS, Baton Rouge, Pensacola, Charlotte, Little Rock, St. Louis, Oklahoma City, Louisville, San Antonio, Chattanooga, Cincinnati, Ft. Worth, and Tampa, not to mention larger cities such as Miami, Detroit, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Boston, Harlem.

The ABA will be a win-win situation for Birmingham based on several factors. The ABA has already secured a national radio deal with over 100 radio stations already on board. The league has finalized an international television deal that will reach much of the U.S., Europe and Africa. The national and international exposure for Birmingham will be tremendous. Can you say ESPN, CNN, FOX Sports, and WTBS? Birmingham will also gain national exposure through print and other media.

Another important benefit will be the offering of a much needed professional sports and entertainment source for the metropolitan area that is located in the City of Birmingham. We will offer fast, fun, friendly, exciting and affordable entertainment with the Birmingham ABA team that will feature players with local and state ties.

We are currently forming an operations team that will produce a quality product. We are looking forward to working with the City of Birmingham, The Corporate and Business Community, and mostly, the people of the Magic City in making this venture one that will make Birmingham proud!

Sincerely,
Reginald D. McDaniel, Esq.

[GoUp1]

Just another reason why we need something really upscale. Big people are on the way...