Red_Mountain_Expressway_Cut.jpg

Red Mountain Expressway. One pass through our Iron Curtain.

(Wikimedia Commons)

The Iron Curtain was an ideological (in some places physical) boundary separating Europe into two parts from the end of the Second World War to the early nineties. The separation was defined not just by economic systems (communism vs. capitalism) but also by cultural and societal norms.

At the risk of hyperbole and huge oversimplification of international, post-war politics, here's a rundown of the conflict: the two sides stood facing away from one another for a few decades, preaching loudly to their respective choirs about how wrong and backwards the other side was.

And they both suffered economically and culturally for it.

We have a similar problem in the Birmingham area, and no one is talking about it. Let's talk about it.

Those who live in the suburbs, as a general rule, do not venture to downtown to spend money. They spend money in their suburb. Those who live downtown do not travel to the suburbs to spend money. This is to our detriment. We need each other.

As the discussion and fervor around the reemergence of Birmingham grows, it has become popular among some to write-off our suburban brethren as old fashioned and impeding progress. This is not in the best interest of Birmingham and reflects a possibly damaging smugness on the part of some of its activist residents.

Don't be a hipster, is what I'm saying.

We should be welcoming and open to conversation not just with people who want to move downtown, but with people who want to shop or eat or drink downtown and then go home to their split-level twenty miles away.

Not only is Birmingham missing out on generations of people with good ideas and valuable knowledge, but it's also missing out on economic stimulus. I like numbers. Let's look at some numbers.

According to 2010 Census data, the median household income of the City of Birmingham between 2007 and 2011 was just over $30k. The surrounding suburbs, by comparison, more than double that number. Chelsea at $82k, Hoover at $75k, and Helena at $81k. Not to mention their growing populations. Chelsea, in particular, grew 4.4% from 2010 to 2012. Suburbs are still on the upswing and the very worst thing we can do is alienate them.

We should be attracting these people to come and spend time and money downtown and to be part of the discussion surrounding its development. We need them.

So I turn to you residents of Chelsea, Hoover, Pelham, Fultondale, Trussville, and all of the other communities that help make Birmingham the up-and-coming metropolis that I know it can be.

<a href="http://polldaddy.com/poll/7612116/">What keeps you from traveling to downtown Birmingham for entertainment, shopping, etc.?</a>

Let's break bread.

What kinds of things do we need to work on to get you to come downtown? What are the reasons that you do not come downtown now? Please tell us. We are listening.

Here are a couple of suggestions I've heard from friends and family in the 'burbs. This list is not complete or ordered:

Transportation (or the lack thereof):

The most common complaint that I hear about traveling from a suburb to downtown to attend some kind of concert, event, or occasion is the inevitable drive home and the possibility that the individual may have had an excellent cocktail or an incredible local brew or three. People are worried of being pulled over or being too impaired and far from home. I know this is not a new problem. Highway 280 is renowned for this argument, since the individual (supposedly) has to pass through multiple police jurisdictions on the way to their abode. How can we fix this problem? Would you use a shuttle service? Why or why not?

Late start times:

Having been in and around the Birmingham music scene for a while, I hear a lot of grievances about the seemingly late start times of much of the entertainment in Birmingham. Nothing gets started until 10 or 11 o'clock; about the time some suburban folk want to head home (see above problem). This is not to say that we should move all entertainment three hours back, only that there may be a hitherto untapped market for live music and entertainment at 7:30 or 8 on a Friday night.

Assurance of safety:

Even though the image of Birmingham has improved dramatically over the past several years thanks to lots of hard work and cooperation by different people and groups, it still retains -- especially to the general suburban dweller -- an unidentifiable sense of hazard. Of course we all know that this apprehension is misplaced and downright wrong, but let's not dwell on that. We should continue to promote safety and a downward trending crime rate in Birmingham, but also spread the word that downtown is just as safe as any remote, gated community.

Other:

What other suggestions do you have for improving relations and interchange between Birmingham and its suburbs? Please share your opinions in the comment section.

A couple of weeks ago I attended an excellent event put on by the local NPR affiliate WBHM called Issues and Ales. At that event there was a lot of discussion about the different "silos" across the metropolitan area and what was to be done about removing people from them.

Let's just ask them.

Share this article and poll with your friends and family on the other side of this Iron Curtain we've built for ourselves. Let's get some answers. Let's tear down this wall.