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Birmingham’s Northside Southside Framework Plan wants to hear your voice. Here’s how.
On Monday night, I had the opportunity to attend the Southside Community Rezoning Meeting at Vulcan Park & Museum. At the meeting, I learned more about the Northside Southside Framework Plan—as well as the overarching Birmingham Comprehensive plan. Here’s what we know.
What is the Northside Southside Framework Plan?
“Back in 2011, we came up with an aspirational vision for what we want the city to be in 20 years. To reach that plan, we developed the comprehensive plan, which was adopted in 2013.”
Tim Gambrel, Chief Planner, City of Birmingham
The Northside Southside Framework Plan is the 8th in a series of 9 framework plans, all part of the 2013 City of Birmingham Comprehensive Plan. Through community involvement, the Northside Southside Framework Plan aims to support the needs of the community and achieve the vision of the Comprehensive Plan.
So why does the Northside Southside Framework Plan matter? Once finalized, the Framework Plan will serve as a way for the community to assess aspects that work well, and aspects that need to change. The plan is a community-based vision for future growth, and an opportunity for residents, business owners, property owners and more to define their vision for the community.
How does it Work?
The framework plan levies the area’s strengths and weaknesses, along with opportunities and threats:
- Strengths
- Housing choices and access to parks
- Demographic and workforce diversity
- Major employment center with strong businesspresence, as well as healthcare and educational institutions
- Weaknesses
- Abandoned and blighted homes
- Safety, security, and crime concerns
- Vacant and underutilized retail and office space
- Public K-12 school system
- Opportunities
- Civil Rights District designated as a National Monument
- City Walk and BJCC Protective Stadium
- Redevelopment of Carraway Hospital site
- Redevelopment of Southtown Court and continued revitalization of Five Points South
- Threats
- Inadequate public K-12 education system • Abandoned and dilapidated housing
- Continued and perceived crime
- Lack of adequate transit and multi-modal infrastructure, parking enforcement
- Declining homeownership and lack of affordable housing with honest landlords
Attend an Upcoming Event and Make Your Voice Heard
Interested in learning more about the Northside Southside Framework Plan? Want to make your voice heard? You’re in luck! The committee is hosting a second meeting, focusing on the Northside aspect of the plan.
- When: Thursday, November 19th, from 5PM to 6:30PM
- Where: Boutwell Auditorium
If you can’t make the November 19th zoning meeting, the Northside Southside Framework Plan has options for residents to submit comments online:
Did you attend the Southside Framework Plan meeting on Monday? Tag us @bhamnow and let us know what you think!
