Will French takes a look at the success of Birmingham's downtown revitalization, which – in the absence of a waterfront – embraced its historic railroads, instead.
Like countless cities across the continent, Birmingham, Alabama is undergoing a downtown revitalization intended as much to transform vast tracts of public green space as to draw businesses to the core. But while such revitalization projects often take shape around a waterfront, Birmingham had no shoreline to turn to. Instead, its renewal was centered around its railroad tracks, built over 100 years ago and largely responsible for the city's early industrial prosperity.
Developed two years ago, Railroad Park spans 19 acres, and plays an important role in the city's plans to give its citizens "more green space per capita than any other city in the country," writes French. "The rail line has essentially been treated as a river, with downtown
bridges passing over the tracks the way Chicago, Pittsburgh, and
Lansing, Michigan, built bridges across their waterways."
Since the opening of the park, the city has seen a host of new and proposed projects crystallizing near downtown, including a minor league baseball stadium, a luxury residential complex, a multi-use community facility, and a new $70-million Westin Hotel.
"All this development stems from a park that once housed a warehouse and a
brick-making facility," French points out. "Embracing the railroad seemed an odd choice at first, but making it a
focal point of revitalization efforts-rather than burying it, as other
cities had done-provided a clear path forward."
FULL STORY: Playing along the Railroad Tracks
North Texas Town Launches Downtown Revitalization Plan
The Design Downtown Denton plan takes aim at improving walkability and highlighting the city’s historic assets.
The Mall Is Dead — Long Live the Mall
The American shopping mall may be closer to its original vision than ever.
UC Berkeley Says Supportive Housing ‘Inseparable’ Part of People’s Park Project
The park remains closed to the public as a court weighs a decision on the university’s proposed housing development.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.
Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.
Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.
MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.
Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie