The history behind Birmingham’s favorite slogan
Birmingham magazine, September 2018
When Birmingham civic organizations originally coined and spread the slogan, Birmingham’s black residents saw the phrase as an effort to mask the city’s racial strife. But nearly 70 years later, “It’s nice to have you in Birmingham” has become a rallying cry for a city deep in a period of revitalization. So, what changed?
Creative live-work spaces are seen as one solution to area’s housing needs
Glenwood Springs Post Independent, July 30, 2018
When a group of volunteers from Loveland first approached Artspace, affordable housing wasn’t their motivation. The residents hoped to save the city’s historic Feed and Grain Building, and they saw the granary as a potential center for the city’s thriving arts community.
Artspace, a Minnesota-based nonprofit real estate developer, had built relationships in Denver before the Loveland group reached out in 2008. The organization develops living and work spaces for artists, but those Denver conversations were in a holding pattern.
“There was no affordability crisis,” said Shannon Joern, Artspace vice president of national advancement. “In fact, we had become engaged with the city of Denver and couldn’t move forward because, at that time, the city of Denver had a surplus of affordable housing units.”
This piece is the first in a four-part series about creative housing solutions. Read the rest:
- Part two: Loveland’s artist live-work space inspired Colorado to seek similar opportunities statewide.
- Part three: Trinidad’s public officials and artists work together to diversify the town’s economy.
- Part four: As Carbondale considers the possibility of artist live-work space, what can the town learn from others?
How 750 miles of trails are connecting Birmingham
Birmingham magazine, June 2018
Birmingham has long been considered a car-dependent city, but that’s changing, one mile at a time. Trails, paths, and other greenways are becoming reality throughout Jefferson County. And these trails aren’t only for die-hard hikers and road bikers. They’re pathways that make it easier for every resident to enjoy the outdoors as they leave their cars behind.
Shadow Lawn: Birmingham’s key historically black cemetery suffers from neglect
AL.com, July 15, 2016
Shadow Lawn again entered city-wide conversation during a recent city council meeting. District 6 representative Sheila Tyson bristled at a proposal for a Holocaust memorial, for which the city would clear and prepare the site at a cost of $45,500. remove an existing pavilion, stone patio and a bench and prepare the site. The expected cost is $45,500. A wooden pavilion, stone patio and a section of concrete bench would be removed.
Why can the city support such a memorial, Tyson asked, but not Shadow Lawn?
By gathering wild vegetation and others’ excess produce, a farm makes use of Alabama’s edible plants
AL.com, Sept. 20, 2015
Before Pete Halupka and Lindsay Whiteaker set out for a day of work, they load their Subaru station wagon with tools of their trade: baskets, bags and pruning shears. The couple is responding to a text message from a friend whose pear trees are heavy with fruit, but they’re also prepared for any other edible plants they find along the way.
The Promise of the $20,000 House
CityLab, Feb. 3, 2015
Since 1993, architecture students at Alabama’s Auburn University have designed and built striking, low-cost buildings through the renowned Rural Studio program. To participate, the students move off campus and across the state to rural western Alabama, where they work with clients in one of the nation’s poorest regions. The program has resulted in dozens of structures that improve the lives of individuals and whole communities: an animal shelter, park facilities, a Boys and Girls Club, and a series of houses targeted to cost about $20,000.
And with 16 iterations of the 20K house now built, the studio is getting ready to bring some of the plans to market.