Thanks for uploading this video! I am an urban planner by trade and this video shows the greatness of Birmingham's grid line pattern. It is a shame that Birmingham has never gotten its act together regarding it's urban development. It could be a great example of a well planned high density urban core center.
Great videos on Birmingham, showed its best of downtown. You left out the new Railroad Park, 5 Points South, Red Mountain and Vulcan (amazing photography locations), The Club (located on top of Red Mountain, 16th St. Baptist and so much more. And those car dealerships are owned by one guy, Jim Burke. I wish you had shown Vestavia Hills, Mountain Brook and Hoover (the richest cities in the Birmingham Metro area). But great video, very proud.
For those who didn't know, 20th street, at least south of downtown, was old US 31 before the Red Mountain Expressway was built. Headed away from downtown, 20th street, two lanes for the most part, was one of the very few ways to get up and over Red Mountain to and from Birmingham and the "over the hill" suburbs of Mountain Brook and Vestavia Hills. Not much fun on icy days. Its a much more peaceful drive with less traffic and a great view of the city - if you're not driving.
thanks so much for this series of videos! i went to the alabama school of fine arts, which i spotted in one of your vids, my entire family are from B'ham (most still live there) and i'm in England now, have been for four years. i miss home so badly. i love the tree lined streets just a suggestion, dunno if you've done these or not, but Morris Avenue, (cobblestone historic road) is interesting, though you might have to walk it, and five points south at the south end of 20th st. thanks very much
I like your videos man. I used to remodel the Krystal Hamburgers in the South East. I have been too all 385 & definitely seen the roughest of the rough. I'm from Birmingham, always loved it for some reason.
Freewayjim Ride through downtown Savanah, Ga if you're ever down that way, it's beautiful down there...and the only place I will never go back to is Cleveland Ave in Atlanta, steer clear of it, lol.
Ha ha!! I like how you put the hip music with this video...nice music!:-) I always take HWY 31/280 to University Blvd to take my Mom to the UAB Kirkland Clinic.They have great hospitals and clinics here. UAB helps my Mother a lot...good services and well trained doctors! That's the only reason we moved here from New York...I hate living in Birmingham,AL...But this is a real cool video though!:-)
@the3idiots14 Thank you, I mainly concentrate on highways and city areas/infrastructure, those areas you mentioned aren't things I'd film and I'm not doing free Chamber of Commerce productions either :)
You know, the many times I have been through here on I-65, I never thought once to get off and go downtown. I mean, you look at the passing scenery going by on I-65 and it looks a little intimidating from the highway. There looks to be even generic urban blight down below the bridge. But the downtown area reminds me a lot of the downtown area of Atlanta. Well, minus all the traffic.
Great video! It'd be cool so see you start at the top of 20th, coming off of Red Mountain, a little later in the day, to get a feel of the 'people traffic'...Birmingham comes alive at night! :)
Also they need a HUGE mall downtown. Just add more attractions. Birmingham is just boring my grandmother lives there. Birmingham needs these things to make it a great vacation city and a even better place to stay. Also get the crime rate down. Advertise amusement parks nationwide!!!
nookjazzy15 Woah woah slow down there buddy. While Birmingham's downtown center might be starting to get revitalized (as are most downtowns), don't get overly excited. It'll take a long time for Birmingham proper to get back to its so-called "glory days."
Sorry all they need is sports teams, a better amusement park, a river, more buildings, a better entertainment district, and just a better and cleaner environment.
I live just outside of Birmingham, in Clay. The city does have its crime, as does any big city, but the majority of the crime can be avoided if you just use common sense and good judgment. A lot of the city's problems actually come from mis-management on the part of its elected officials rather than the crime.
I think the alongside roads places scenics are so goods goods, so goods beautiful and so goods comfortable and so goods big, and so goods wides. I think the alongside roads places all houses and all buildings are so goods goods and so goods beautiful. I think the alongside roads places climates are so goods goods . I think the alongside roads places airs are so goods to fresh airs. I think the alongside roads places environment are so goods comfortable. I can able be to the awersomes for it. I am to glads to it. I think are so goods values the delights or wows and praises for it . I love to it. I think are most favorites for it. Thank you for sharing thank you so much that’s right all right ok no problems me too see you soon see you later good luck good job you are welcome.
Live an hour from that city and was born there. But I've learned a lot about Birmingham and how that city used to be a bigger city in the 60's and stuff until the government shut down the steel mill there and it cost hundreds of thousands of people to go else were witch now the city has to grow more or it might fall to the government because it already is in billions depth to the government so hope they succeed in paying it off
To be honest I don't miss that place at all anymore I live there over 15yrs and I got very tired of it. Same old same old birmingham nothing really change. I would never look back at that place again...
I heard that before Atlanta got big they said they were going to put it in Birmingham. Sadly there old mayor ect. didn't do it. That was a HORRIBLE choice. I'm glad I no longer live in Birmingham. It was so boring.
Cool city. But deeply buried within it's very existence I could feel the spirit of the 1950s just now, the heat of racial segregation and prejudice just permeated through me and for once just looking at the almost silence, lack of vehicles and people on a very busy day in that city gave me a rush of fear only felt by the ones whose bones are now beneath the cemetery, who lives thru the tormenting hell of being treated less than humans. I could see and feel it. Not good city. It needs to be abandoned..... The blood of my forefathers soak beneath this concrete jungle.. RIP you all.
omar williams okay lol. This looks like a Saturday. Very slow on the weekend. For years people only worked downtown and it’s a ghost town on the weekend. In just a year downtown has transformed. With presence of restored theaters, lofts, condos, restaurants, hotels, night clubs, Top Golf, baseball stadium, negro league museum, restoration of the Pizitz building into lofts(where I live). Etc. Also there’s plans of a mall downtown. There’s life downtown 24hours. Check us out.
jamesbulldogmiller honestly that black mayor wasn’t my favorite. The dynamic will slightly change now that they have made downtown more appealing to the young professionals. More white people are moving back to Birmingham(downtown). The black mayor and city council has just been voted out. New mayor is still black, but he’s also young. That’s a good thing. More white people on the city council. Which is fine. I just don’t think previous mayor and council expected their work to bite them on the ass.
Thanks for the video and showing the BJCC towards the end of the video. I spent a week there back in 2008. Great place and great city, Birmingham.
Nice song choice Freeway'. Thanks for posting.
Very nice as usual Jim. I was in Birmingham in 2008, but I never got to explore the streets of downtown like you did.
Thanks for uploading this video! I am an urban planner by trade and this video shows the greatness of Birmingham's grid line pattern. It is a shame that Birmingham has never gotten its act together regarding it's urban development. It could be a great example of a well planned high density urban core center.
Thank you very much, glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks, glad you liked it, I probably won't be doing any more Birmingham Street videos.
Great videos on Birmingham, showed its best of downtown. You left out the new Railroad Park, 5 Points South, Red Mountain and Vulcan (amazing photography locations), The Club (located on top of Red Mountain, 16th St. Baptist and so much more. And those car dealerships are owned by one guy, Jim Burke. I wish you had shown Vestavia Hills, Mountain Brook and Hoover (the richest cities in the Birmingham Metro area). But great video, very proud.
Thanks to post those videos. There´s no better way to discover the city I choose to move on next year...
+Renato Noveletto You are welcome and good luck!
Awesome tour of downtown! Love the music too. Favorited.
Thanks for video. I was born in Birmingham and know some of these places. Been a long time since I was there.
For those who didn't know, 20th street, at least south of downtown, was old US 31 before the Red Mountain Expressway was built. Headed away from downtown, 20th street, two lanes for the most part, was one of the very few ways to get up and over Red Mountain to and from Birmingham and the "over the hill" suburbs of Mountain Brook and Vestavia Hills. Not much fun on icy days. Its a much more peaceful drive with less traffic and a great view of the city - if you're not driving.
@HighwayStar1982 Thanks, glad you liked it, yes they are more difficult to make than the stanard freeway fare. Glad you liked the song too!
This is true. But the fact that you were able to find music that fits so well for the video like that is pretty cool.
thanks so much for this series of videos!
i went to the alabama school of fine arts, which i spotted in one of your vids, my entire family are from B'ham (most still live there) and i'm in England now, have been for four years.
i miss home so badly. i love the tree lined streets
just a suggestion, dunno if you've done these or not, but Morris Avenue, (cobblestone historic road) is interesting, though you might have to walk it, and five points south at the south end of 20th st. thanks very much
I like your videos man. I used to remodel the Krystal Hamburgers in the South East. I have been too all 385 & definitely seen the roughest of the rough. I'm from Birmingham, always loved it for some reason.
Thank you!
Freewayjim Ride through downtown Savanah, Ga if you're ever down that way, it's beautiful down there...and the only place I will never go back to is Cleveland Ave in Atlanta, steer clear of it, lol.
GroddOfWar 777 Been to Savannah and live in Atlanta, agreed on both counts.
Toddle House before that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@@groddofwar7779 that's a real rattrap isn't it,they should just close that exit
Nice ride through downtown Birmingham, only been to Alabama four times(twice as a rider in my brother's big rig)but never visited downtown.
@CAMINOANDALUZ Thanks, glad you enjoyed it
@writer125 Sure thing, thanks for watching!
The one thing about Birmingham I have noticed here and in my own trips is that lack of pedestrians in busy areas.
@FreewayTitan Thanks, yeah UAB is bigger than I expected too, I had to take my father there last year and getting around that hospital is like a maze.
Ha ha!! I like how you put the hip music with this video...nice music!:-) I always take HWY 31/280 to University Blvd to take my Mom to the UAB Kirkland Clinic.They have great hospitals and clinics here. UAB helps my Mother a lot...good services and well trained doctors! That's the only reason we moved here from New York...I hate living in Birmingham,AL...But this is a real cool video though!:-)
@Bryant5493 Thanks Bryant, yes I think you are right about the street markings.
Thanks!
@the3idiots14 Thank you, I mainly concentrate on highways and city areas/infrastructure, those areas you mentioned aren't things I'd film and I'm not doing free Chamber of Commerce productions either :)
Thanks for watching!
Downtown Birmingham is Seeing a lot of Growth
I Have Always Liked Birmingham, Where Im From And Where I Was Born. Cool City.
@prfsnlwannabe Thanks, The Red Mtn Expwy is definitely worth a short detour to see it.
You know, the many times I have been through here on I-65, I never thought once to get off and go downtown. I mean, you look at the passing scenery going by on I-65 and it looks a little intimidating from the highway. There looks to be even generic urban blight down below the bridge. But the downtown area reminds me a lot of the downtown area of Atlanta. Well, minus all the traffic.
@KatsStray Thanks for the clarification.
Great video! It'd be cool so see you start at the top of 20th, coming off of Red Mountain, a little later in the day, to get a feel of the 'people traffic'...Birmingham comes alive at night! :)
I wish Birmingham will someday rise as a great city! All we need i
@utterbullspit Stange as it may seem I really don't travel much, this was just a saturday day trip.
You pretty much hit all of the highlights with this drive
lol you mean they only hit the things things that don't look apocalyptic
I'm diggin your intro beat you done that yourself? @freewayjim that Alabama blues remix is a nice vibe...
No, that an Apple Loop called Chelsea loft, the full 37 seconds version of it is here on You Tube.
@@Freewayjim oh ok cool... keep up the great work...can't wait for you new ride along vids
@VaFreeways Thank you, where else was I going to use this song? LOL.
Great video. Downtown Birmingham doesn't look too bad, actually.
@KatsStray Thanks for the info, I did not know that.
Interesting video, I like the skywalks :)
@beyondfamous Good to know, thanks
nice city I pass by there on my way to Atlanta
@aswchris Thanks!
How do you have the time to go to all these places?
@ScrewdUPClickV2 Thanks Bro.
I use a Sony HDR-HC9 and there is a video of my setup in my archives.
@VaFreeways Thanks!
Also they need a HUGE mall downtown. Just add more attractions. Birmingham is just boring my grandmother lives there. Birmingham needs these things to make it a great vacation city and a even better place to stay. Also get the crime rate down. Advertise amusement parks nationwide!!!
Downtown B-ham looks nice! But overall B-ham is pretty rough! good thing the crime rate is down tremendously over the years!
They have like a HUGE mall about 8 min out of the downtown area....
You're welcome!!:-) I enjoy watching your vids!
You said the McWayne Center has the only IMAX theatre in Birmingham. While true, Hoover is just a few miles south and has a theatre with IMAX as well.
velvetravyn Yes, but Hoover is its own city. It is one of the biggest cities in the state.
The one in Birmingham is better
@jet101988 Thank you!
@Theo76150 Thank You!
Birmingham I believe will be a huge metropolis , check out the recent projects downtown an around the metro
nookjazzy15 Woah woah slow down there buddy. While Birmingham's downtown center might be starting to get revitalized (as are most downtowns), don't get overly excited. It'll take a long time for Birmingham proper to get back to its so-called "glory days."
@maidenrulezzzz Thank you!
Merci pour cette superbe vidéo !
4:04 Paramedics
@GoHard1102 Nope it's going up actually.
03:26 Southtown Projects
Sorry all they need is sports teams, a better amusement park, a river, more buildings, a better entertainment district, and just a better and cleaner environment.
@McBearPEI Me either!
@georgiaroadgeek That was my overall impression of it too.
I live just outside of Birmingham, in Clay. The city does have its crime, as does any big city, but the majority of the crime can be avoided if you just use common sense and good judgment. A lot of the city's problems actually come from mis-management on the part of its elected officials rather than the crime.
Birmingham Al is going to be a Huge metropolis watch...
It's so confusing cuz all the streets have north or south no matter which way ur headed
Atlanta, no contest.
nice one
All this was just barely spared in the recent tornadoes.
I think the alongside roads places scenics are so goods goods, so goods beautiful and so goods comfortable and so goods big, and so goods wides. I think the alongside roads places all houses and all buildings are so goods goods and so goods beautiful. I think the alongside roads places climates are so goods goods . I think the alongside roads places airs are so goods to fresh airs. I think the alongside roads places environment are so goods comfortable. I can able be to the awersomes for it. I am to glads to it. I think are so goods values the delights or wows and praises for it . I love to it. I think are most favorites for it. Thank you for sharing thank you so much that’s right all right ok no problems me too see you soon see you later good luck good job you are welcome.
Live an hour from that city and was born there. But I've learned a lot about Birmingham and how that city used to be a bigger city in the 60's and stuff until the government shut down the steel mill there and it cost hundreds of thousands of people to go else were witch now the city has to grow more or it might fall to the government because it already is in billions depth to the government so hope they succeed in paying it off
WoW .. I almost got arrested @ that Texaco on the left ..
Over 75 years of Birmingham, Alabama in the year 2038 of the world.
4:00 ambulance 🚑
Freeway Jim why don't, you make a video driving to Huntsville Alabama.
Because that would not be very interesting and I have no reason to go there.
Certainly not the city I remember from my days there.
To be honest I don't miss that place at all anymore I live there over 15yrs and I got very tired of it. Same old same old birmingham nothing really change. I would never look back at that place again...
That song is just rotted
I heard that before Atlanta got big they said they were going to put it in Birmingham. Sadly there old mayor ect. didn't do it. That was a HORRIBLE choice. I'm glad I no longer live in Birmingham. It was so boring.
LOL....Birmingham is going down..and i mean fast.. seems like everyone is LEAVING the city instead of helping it.
This comment didn't age well.
Cool city. But deeply buried within it's very existence I could feel the spirit of the 1950s just now, the heat of racial segregation and prejudice just permeated through me and for once just looking at the almost silence, lack of vehicles and people on a very busy day in that city gave me a rush of fear only felt by the ones whose bones are now beneath the cemetery, who lives thru the tormenting hell of being treated less than humans. I could see and feel it. Not good city. It needs to be abandoned..... The blood of my forefathers soak beneath this concrete jungle.. RIP you all.
Okay, man.
It's A NEW BIRMINGHAM now... it's not anything like this anymore.... IT'S DIVERSE AS ATLANTA an becoming the new big kid on the block.
The mayor is black
The police chief is black
The fire chief is black
most of the city council is black.
omar williams okay lol. This looks like a Saturday. Very slow on the weekend. For years people only worked downtown and it’s a ghost town on the weekend. In just a year downtown has transformed. With presence of restored theaters, lofts, condos, restaurants, hotels, night clubs, Top Golf, baseball stadium, negro league museum, restoration of the Pizitz building into lofts(where I live). Etc. Also there’s plans of a mall downtown. There’s life downtown 24hours. Check us out.
jamesbulldogmiller honestly that black mayor wasn’t my favorite. The dynamic will slightly change now that they have made downtown more appealing to the young professionals. More white people are moving back to Birmingham(downtown). The black mayor and city council has just been voted out. New mayor is still black, but he’s also young. That’s a good thing. More white people on the city council. Which is fine. I just don’t think previous mayor and council expected their work to bite them on the ass.
Bham has way nicer peps no contest
The city looks boring
Tone. Capone it's not at all
Tone. Capone your boring