Old buildings are like people, they adapt to change and weather the bad times with the good. Among downtown Birmingham’s large inventory of older buildings is one that’s been repurposed several times over its 100-year history and sat vacant... Read more
Having essential services grouped together is a hallmark of a livable community. An area in Cahaba Heights will soon have nearly everything a neighborhood needs at one’s fingertips – a school, medical care, restaurant, retail/office space and recreation. Parkside... Read more
Orange Beach is set to become an even nicer spot to relax and soak up the sun. Thanks to a project that provides public access to additional beachfront and several new amenities to enjoy. In a public-private partnership, the... Read more
DesignAlabama is continually looking for ways to improve communities statewide and enhance quality of life. DesignDash – its latest program with those objectives in mind – recently launched in the town of Double Springs, the county seat of Winston... Read more
A few years ago, CNN declared: “Warehouse conversions are sweeping the globe.” This adaptive reuse strategy began in Birmingham long before that CNN report, with derelict older buildings being turned into exciting livable spaces that meet the ever-changing needs... Read more
Few towns can claim such strong community identity as Monroeville, where celebrated writers Truman Capote and Harper Lee grew up as friends. Set in Monroeville, Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel To Kill a Mockingbird has brought worldwide attention to the... Read more
If in doubt about the need for safer streets, consider this: Traffic is a far greater threat to people walking on city sidewalks than crime. This is the case in many urban areas including Mobile, where efforts are being... Read more
“Architects are late bloomers,” writes architect and urban designer Matthew Frederick in his book, 101 Things I Learned in Architecture School. “Most architects do not hit their professional stride until around age 50.” Amanda Loper is no late bloomer.... Read more
A well-designed website is essential to the success of a small business, particularly those with little or no brick-and-mortar presence that rely exclusively on online sales. That’s the case with Two Hands Guitar Co. in Fairhope that produces hand-crafted,... Read more
