By far, and I mean really far, this post on Thomas Beatie has brought more visitors to Bessemer Opinions than any previous post. I track those kinds of things, when I have time. Not more comments than other posts, but more visitors. And from countries, literally, around the world. Lots of interest in the story.
There have been some interesting comments, and I am going to copy one of them here, and my response which I also posted as a comment.
A reader had this to say:
I am a heterosexual woman with VERY liberal views on the LGBT community. But this situation is where I draw the line. There is no miracle about Thomas's ability to carry a child she's a woman - that's what we do! Thomas needs to see shrink, she wants to identify as a man but have the rights of a women! WTF?? Stop being greedy either you are or your not. Thomas is trying to play God - defy nature what he is doing is mocking the cycle of life. SHAME ON THEM!!
And here is my response:
I remember in 1978 when Louise Brown was an embryo in a test tube and the news of her successful implantation into the uterus of her natural mother took place. I remember the same types of comments, that Steptoe and the other doctors involved were playing God. Of course, Lesley Brown was the natural parent, so there are differences. No wait, Thomas is the natural parent also. And his baby was not concieved in a test tube, outside of the body.
Now in vitro fertilization is commonplace, and no one, well almost no one, thinks anything of it, except maybe questioning the multiple births that usually take place with these techniques. But is it playing God when we use a woman as a breeding machine to produce a litter? Is that mocking the human cycle of life, and mocking God? After all, the human uterus is not designed to carry 4 or 5 fetuses, yet the fertility Gods..docs...deem it so.
Also common are surrogate pregnancies where a woman carries the fetus of another woman and has the baby and then just gives it up. Is that healthy for the woman (the surrogate)or the baby? Is that playing God?
When Sarah (Sarai) couldn't bear Abraham's (Abram's) child he tried that surragacy thing, sort of, with Hagar. Who was playing God there?
Of couse they had that whole incest, who's your daddy thing going on with Sarah and Abraham having the same father (oh, really?) and rumors about Abimelech being the daddy of Isaac.So unusual pregnancies and relationships did not begin with Thomas Beatie, and they won't end there.
Oh, the flower pictures will have to wait till later in the weekend..
The Year of Moving Forward
At our 4 person wedding reception in DC
Friday, April 4, 2008
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Cheyenne Jackson
Now I really want to see Xanadu. Cheyenne stars as the leading man... struggling artist Sonny Malone in the Olivia Newton John remembrance. He's part Native American and 100% handsome. He spoke about his gayness in The Advocate and his story, of coming out to his family at 19, of getting turned on by Popeye and Brutus bondage at 7, and of being in a loving and understanding relationship for 9 years is nothing but sweet and uplifting.
Of course he went through what we all do, whether we come out at 7 or 19 or 40, but of particular merit is the importance that celebrity or well known role models hold for young gay people. One teenager asked for a picture, and later clutched it as he told his parents he was gay "because it gave him strength." He even loaned the picture to a friend a couple of weeks later when he coming out.
I might even watch the Tony's this year...well, if he's nominated.
At least click on the link and read the first of the article. What he says about Popeye will crack you up.
I probably won't make it to New York to see Xanadu, but I did see this on Thanksgiving Day and did leave the oven unattended for a few minutes:
Here is Cheyenne's web site Cheyenne Jackson
My other connection (yeah right, like that was one) to Xanadu is:
In Xanadu did Kubla Kahn
A stately pleasure-dome decree :
Where Alph, the sacred river, ran
Through caverns measureless to man
Down to a sunless sea.
So twice five miles of fertile ground
With walls and towers were girdled round :
And there were gardens bright with sinuous rills,
Where blossomed many an incense-bearing tree ;
And here were forests ancient as the hills,
Enfoldingsunny spots of greenery.
The link takes you to the entire poem. I wrote a term paper in high school about Samuel Taylor Coleridge's drug use and how it influenced his poetry.
Nice pictures (of flowers and such) are due Friday.
Of course he went through what we all do, whether we come out at 7 or 19 or 40, but of particular merit is the importance that celebrity or well known role models hold for young gay people. One teenager asked for a picture, and later clutched it as he told his parents he was gay "because it gave him strength." He even loaned the picture to a friend a couple of weeks later when he coming out.
I might even watch the Tony's this year...well, if he's nominated.
At least click on the link and read the first of the article. What he says about Popeye will crack you up.
I probably won't make it to New York to see Xanadu, but I did see this on Thanksgiving Day and did leave the oven unattended for a few minutes:
Here is Cheyenne's web site Cheyenne Jackson
My other connection (yeah right, like that was one) to Xanadu is:
In Xanadu did Kubla Kahn
A stately pleasure-dome decree :
Where Alph, the sacred river, ran
Through caverns measureless to man
Down to a sunless sea.
So twice five miles of fertile ground
With walls and towers were girdled round :
And there were gardens bright with sinuous rills,
Where blossomed many an incense-bearing tree ;
And here were forests ancient as the hills,
Enfoldingsunny spots of greenery.
The link takes you to the entire poem. I wrote a term paper in high school about Samuel Taylor Coleridge's drug use and how it influenced his poetry.
Nice pictures (of flowers and such) are due Friday.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Bessemer Development and Bessemer Beauty (and Beyond)
Thanks to Carole for this tip.
The Birmingham Business Journal lists the top business deals of the year and U. S. Pipe's expansion in Bessemer is number two. From Bessemer Opinions May 9, 2007, "Building permits and fees alone will generate $450,000 for the city on the $45 million project. Ray Torok, company president, says, “This is a statement of commitment by U. S. Pipe to the Bessemer Community. No one is going to wake up one morning and worry that U. S. Pipe is leaving Bessemer, and in this day and age, that is no small gift.” Neither is the $116 million total annual economic impact that U. S. Pipe, with its current plant and the new one will generate for the city once it opens."
I am still waiting for more information, but there is supposed to be some degree of green in this development, not the $$$ kind, but rather the environmentally friendly kind. That was my main interest in this story from the beginning. Environmentally friendly economic development of this sort will really help Bessemer in the eyes of the yuppies and guppies that are helping to Bring Bessemer Back.
Number three on the list is Colonial's Tannehill Promenade development. Publix, Target, Ross, J. C. Penney, Premiere 14 Cinema, and probably Logan's, Chik-fil-A and Habenero's are among the businesses soon to open, some as early as this summer.
This development will bring more of the $$$ green to the city. Of course, the city "invested" $14.5 million to the development, including a much debated gift of a cool million to secure the theater, so it will take a while before we recoup our investment.
Another Bessemer development on the list (number 8)is Equity Development Corporation's construction of a 127,500 square foot spec building at its Parkwest Corporate Center. This was phase three of their project.
To have 3 of the top 12 deals of 2007 speaks well of Bessemer. Where it's happenin:
Bessemer also has some of the most colorful gardens in the county. Without fail, Lady Banks Rose is the earliest to bloom. Ours is yellow, but there is a white form available also.
This is a little pond as sunset approaches. Part of the poperty is in the wetlands program to preserve habitat.
The Birmingham Business Journal lists the top business deals of the year and U. S. Pipe's expansion in Bessemer is number two. From Bessemer Opinions May 9, 2007, "Building permits and fees alone will generate $450,000 for the city on the $45 million project. Ray Torok, company president, says, “This is a statement of commitment by U. S. Pipe to the Bessemer Community. No one is going to wake up one morning and worry that U. S. Pipe is leaving Bessemer, and in this day and age, that is no small gift.” Neither is the $116 million total annual economic impact that U. S. Pipe, with its current plant and the new one will generate for the city once it opens."
I am still waiting for more information, but there is supposed to be some degree of green in this development, not the $$$ kind, but rather the environmentally friendly kind. That was my main interest in this story from the beginning. Environmentally friendly economic development of this sort will really help Bessemer in the eyes of the yuppies and guppies that are helping to Bring Bessemer Back.
Number three on the list is Colonial's Tannehill Promenade development. Publix, Target, Ross, J. C. Penney, Premiere 14 Cinema, and probably Logan's, Chik-fil-A and Habenero's are among the businesses soon to open, some as early as this summer.
This development will bring more of the $$$ green to the city. Of course, the city "invested" $14.5 million to the development, including a much debated gift of a cool million to secure the theater, so it will take a while before we recoup our investment.
Another Bessemer development on the list (number 8)is Equity Development Corporation's construction of a 127,500 square foot spec building at its Parkwest Corporate Center. This was phase three of their project.
To have 3 of the top 12 deals of 2007 speaks well of Bessemer. Where it's happenin:
Bessemer also has some of the most colorful gardens in the county. Without fail, Lady Banks Rose is the earliest to bloom. Ours is yellow, but there is a white form available also.
Tulips are still blooming, this white one has a bright yellow center, and must have been planted by Dr. McElroy years ago. Some tulips seem to be pretty good about coming back year after year, other do not.
Orange and pink don't always go together, but tell this monarch butterfly who couldn't resist this azalea blossom.
The following pictures are from the farm in Morgan County. These are peach blossoms.
Sometimes the tiniest flowers are the most beautiful. Simple, common, and walked over by almost everyone who has a yard, are the tiny bluets. Bluets are also called Quaker Ladies. One of my favorite "weeds" since childhood.
Speaking of weeds, even the lawn pesk dandelion is realy beautiful, and in a pasture at sunset, the seed head looks like this.
This is a little pond as sunset approaches. Part of the poperty is in the wetlands program to preserve habitat.
The farm pictures were taken Easter weekend, the others this week in our yard in Bessemer.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Murat Kurnaz
This story was on 60 Minutes last night. If someone is not convinced that our military was out of control ...no wait...they are under control...of a devious and lying commander in chief who has no concern about human rights or dignity...anyway here is the story of Murat Kurnaz.
You may already know the story of Kurnaz, a German man who was detained in 2001 (shortly after 9-11) by Pakistani police and given to the US for $3000. He was detained because of racial profiling...he was lighter skinned than the Pakistanis that were travelling on the bus with him.
He was bound and shackled and flown in a U. S. military plane to Khandihar, Afghanistan, where he became prisoner number 53.
He was kept in an outdoor pen, in sub-freezing temperatures and interrogated daily. He of course denied the charges that he was a terrorist.
American troops held his head under water, and hit him in the stomach while his head was submerged in an effort to get information from him (Opinion...torture...no wait, that's not an opinion, that is a fact.) They shocked him with electricity, and suspended hinm by his arms for 5 days, while a doctor periodically checked him to determine that he could stand to be suspended for longer periods.
When reminded during the interview that the military will deny his charges, he said "It does not matter whatever they will say. The truth will not change."
Other prisoners describe similar treatment and some troops have admitted to those practices.
Then they transported him to Gitmo, where he was forced to go without sleep for weeks among other techniques our guys used to try to make him confess or give information.
In 2004 the U. S. Supreme Court ruled GITMO prisoners have a right to representation and an attorney surprisingly paid him a visit.
The attorney discovered the military had been making up charges to keep him classified as an enemy combatant. The attorney also found a file written within six months of Kurnaz's arrival at GITMO that said "CITF (Criminal Investigation Task Force) has no definite link/evidence of detainee having an association with al Qaida or making any specific threat toward the U. S."
So even though there was no evidence against him, Kurnaz was kept 3-1/2 more years with invented new charges such as a charge that he was picked up near Osama bin Laden's hide out in Afghanistan while fighting for the Taliban. Strange...the U. S. is the one that took him to Afghanistan...in custody.
A judge ruled that the military tribunals in GITMO were unconstitutional, referring to Kurnaz's case in doing so. He was finally released in 2006, and flown home bound and shackled and blindfolded and denied food and water for the entire seventeen hour flight.
He has written a book "Five Years of My Life, An Innocent Man in Guantanamo". There will be no book signing tour, however, he is still banned from the U. S. and considered by our government to be an "unlawful enemy combatant."
How anyone can support the Bush-Cheney-McCain war is beyond me.
You may already know the story of Kurnaz, a German man who was detained in 2001 (shortly after 9-11) by Pakistani police and given to the US for $3000. He was detained because of racial profiling...he was lighter skinned than the Pakistanis that were travelling on the bus with him.
He was bound and shackled and flown in a U. S. military plane to Khandihar, Afghanistan, where he became prisoner number 53.
He was kept in an outdoor pen, in sub-freezing temperatures and interrogated daily. He of course denied the charges that he was a terrorist.
American troops held his head under water, and hit him in the stomach while his head was submerged in an effort to get information from him (Opinion...torture...no wait, that's not an opinion, that is a fact.) They shocked him with electricity, and suspended hinm by his arms for 5 days, while a doctor periodically checked him to determine that he could stand to be suspended for longer periods.
When reminded during the interview that the military will deny his charges, he said "It does not matter whatever they will say. The truth will not change."
Other prisoners describe similar treatment and some troops have admitted to those practices.
Then they transported him to Gitmo, where he was forced to go without sleep for weeks among other techniques our guys used to try to make him confess or give information.
In 2004 the U. S. Supreme Court ruled GITMO prisoners have a right to representation and an attorney surprisingly paid him a visit.
The attorney discovered the military had been making up charges to keep him classified as an enemy combatant. The attorney also found a file written within six months of Kurnaz's arrival at GITMO that said "CITF (Criminal Investigation Task Force) has no definite link/evidence of detainee having an association with al Qaida or making any specific threat toward the U. S."
So even though there was no evidence against him, Kurnaz was kept 3-1/2 more years with invented new charges such as a charge that he was picked up near Osama bin Laden's hide out in Afghanistan while fighting for the Taliban. Strange...the U. S. is the one that took him to Afghanistan...in custody.
A judge ruled that the military tribunals in GITMO were unconstitutional, referring to Kurnaz's case in doing so. He was finally released in 2006, and flown home bound and shackled and blindfolded and denied food and water for the entire seventeen hour flight.
He has written a book "Five Years of My Life, An Innocent Man in Guantanamo". There will be no book signing tour, however, he is still banned from the U. S. and considered by our government to be an "unlawful enemy combatant."
How anyone can support the Bush-Cheney-McCain war is beyond me.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Eric Breidenbaugh
This should never have happened. What follows is from an email I received from the Human Rights Campaign.
Eric Breidenbaugh knew something was wrong.
His partner and his partner's parents were all missing – hours overdue from a family flight aboard a small private plane.
Eric called his local airport, near Pinellas Park, Florida, to see if they had any information. They did, but they wouldn't give it to him. They said he was "not an actual family member," so they couldn't tell him whether his partner was alive or dead.
He searched the TV news, where he soon saw footage of the plane he himself had ridden in many times. That was how he found out that his life partner of six years, Joseph Bellamy, had been killed with his parents in a plane crash.
It's simply wrong that GLBT Americans should be treated like second-class citizens, denied the right to care for their loved ones.
At this site you can see and hear Eric talking about his experience, losing his love and not even being able to talk to medical personel or airport officials about this experience. And what should be done.
Here is the site for HRC. They are fighting, especially in Florida right now, against this type of discrimination. We already have discrimination written into our constitution in Alabama, let's not let it happen in Florida.
OK, after that maybe we need something just for fun. Go to The Georgia Aquarium and you will be watching the web cam from one of their aquariums. Double click on the picture, and it will enlarge to your entire screen. Sit watch and don't get any work done. (Click again to get out).
Soon they will be releasing a loggerhead turtle with a camera attached, and we will be able to see what the loggerhead sees. Cool, huh?
Eric Breidenbaugh knew something was wrong.
His partner and his partner's parents were all missing – hours overdue from a family flight aboard a small private plane.
Eric called his local airport, near Pinellas Park, Florida, to see if they had any information. They did, but they wouldn't give it to him. They said he was "not an actual family member," so they couldn't tell him whether his partner was alive or dead.
He searched the TV news, where he soon saw footage of the plane he himself had ridden in many times. That was how he found out that his life partner of six years, Joseph Bellamy, had been killed with his parents in a plane crash.
It's simply wrong that GLBT Americans should be treated like second-class citizens, denied the right to care for their loved ones.
At this site you can see and hear Eric talking about his experience, losing his love and not even being able to talk to medical personel or airport officials about this experience. And what should be done.
Here is the site for HRC. They are fighting, especially in Florida right now, against this type of discrimination. We already have discrimination written into our constitution in Alabama, let's not let it happen in Florida.
OK, after that maybe we need something just for fun. Go to The Georgia Aquarium and you will be watching the web cam from one of their aquariums. Double click on the picture, and it will enlarge to your entire screen. Sit watch and don't get any work done. (Click again to get out).
Soon they will be releasing a loggerhead turtle with a camera attached, and we will be able to see what the loggerhead sees. Cool, huh?
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Thomas Beatie
I have considered writing about this subject for days, ever since I first read a story in The Advocate about Thomas Beatie, who is transgender. I have a not too distant relative who like Thomas is female to male trangender and I thought about him when I read the article.
Today the Birmingham News had an article about Thomas, but since they could not tell the whole story, here, in The Advocate is a link to it. By commenting on this, I don't feel I am exploiting his situation, since he writes about himself in the first person in the article.
Thomas is legally a male in Oregon and is married, with full rights and benefits to his wife, Nancy. Thomas is now carrying their child. You can see a picture of the pregnant man at the link above. Thomas was born with female reproductive organs, and at the time of sex reassignment did not have those parts removed, although he did have chest reconstruction.
He and Nancy wanted to have a child, but Nancy, due to a medical condition years ago, had a hysterectomy and could not bear children. Thomas stopped his hormone treatments and more than a year later he is pregnant with their daughter.
Thomas says they saw nine different doctors before finding one who would work with them. His own brother questioned "what kind of monster" he might produce.
They realize their situation "sparks legal, political and social unknowns." Still, they also know that their daughter will be born around July 3, 2008, and so far the pregnancy is free of complications.
Thomas and other transgendered individuals deserve the same respect and rights that the rest of us deserve. He has put himself out there for the world to see to make a point, and he does it well.
Only by sharing stories such as this will people begin to understand and accept people of sexual minorities. The most recent issue of Out magazine was devoted to Trans issues. I commend the media (at least this part of it) for presenting this information, even when the LGBT rights organizations are sometimes struggling with it. For Thomas, for my "cuz", for the rest of you, I am with you.
Today the Birmingham News had an article about Thomas, but since they could not tell the whole story, here, in The Advocate is a link to it. By commenting on this, I don't feel I am exploiting his situation, since he writes about himself in the first person in the article.
Thomas is legally a male in Oregon and is married, with full rights and benefits to his wife, Nancy. Thomas is now carrying their child. You can see a picture of the pregnant man at the link above. Thomas was born with female reproductive organs, and at the time of sex reassignment did not have those parts removed, although he did have chest reconstruction.
He and Nancy wanted to have a child, but Nancy, due to a medical condition years ago, had a hysterectomy and could not bear children. Thomas stopped his hormone treatments and more than a year later he is pregnant with their daughter.
Thomas says they saw nine different doctors before finding one who would work with them. His own brother questioned "what kind of monster" he might produce.
They realize their situation "sparks legal, political and social unknowns." Still, they also know that their daughter will be born around July 3, 2008, and so far the pregnancy is free of complications.
Thomas and other transgendered individuals deserve the same respect and rights that the rest of us deserve. He has put himself out there for the world to see to make a point, and he does it well.
Only by sharing stories such as this will people begin to understand and accept people of sexual minorities. The most recent issue of Out magazine was devoted to Trans issues. I commend the media (at least this part of it) for presenting this information, even when the LGBT rights organizations are sometimes struggling with it. For Thomas, for my "cuz", for the rest of you, I am with you.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
A Plan for Bessemer
Last night the Auburn University Urban Studio architecture grad students' plan for downtown Bessemer was unveiled.
Nice.
I have high hopes that some of the ideas put forth will become reality, more so than with previous attempts to revive our city center. Part of the reason for this is because five of our seven city council members attended last night and each received a copy of the plan. Past attempts at reviving our city have not garnered this kind of attention from elected officials.
Another reason is the strong showing last night by members of the Bessemer Historical Homeowners Association. While rebuilding downtown for the most part is not about preserving old homes, we (BHHA members) see the value in downtown development and how our historic neighbohoods connect to this area. (Especially now that we have seen the plan). BHHA has a diverse membership from throughout the city (and beyond) that will talk this plan up among friends, business leaders and neighbors to increase support.
This plan is not going to be put on a shelf and forgotten. The Bessemer Downtown Redevelopment Authority and the Bessemer Development Board are going to continue presenting the plan to civic groups, associations, schools and any other group that is interested.
Urban Studio has done these projects in over 40 communities around the state. In the past, their presentation has been in the form of an informative map that shows potential improvements and such. But for Bessemer, for the first time, they decided to use both sides of the poster, one for the traditional plan for the future, and on the back side is proposed neighborhood development for several areas and some proposals about Greenways and Trail connections.
We have been trying to get the city interested in connecting to Red Mountain Park for years with little response. This plan shows how it could be done. The land to the west of Red Mountain Park, extending into Bessemer is largely under one ownership, and if this land could be acquired to (or beyond) highway 150, the old rail bed leading to the city along 150 could be made into a connecting trail. This railway passes over the Avenues that enter the historic southside and leads to the (also historic) elevated trestle near Carolina Avenue, which could be part of an extended walkway leading to the proposed RailRoad Park between Carolina and First Avenues. In my opinion this would be the crown jewel of the expanded park system proposed. And it would link Bessemer not only to Birmingham but also to Mountain Brook's Jemison Trail, the Vulcan Trail and Homewood's Shades Creek Greenway that we see when we drive on Lakeshore Drive.
There are people who would love to run such a trail, or ride a bike from Bessemer to Vulcan. Me, me!!!
Other trail connections include extending the Valley Creek Trail from its proposed end in Brighton into Bessemer, along the creek to Powder Plant road and the Alabama Adventure and new high school area. There are other rails to trails type proposals in the plan as well.
My column in The Western Tribune today is about this plan also. Here it is for those of you who do not read the paper (shame on you...just kidding).
On Tuesday the Master Plan for Downtown Bessemer as envisioned by the Auburn University Urban Studio graduate students was unveiled. The public was invited to the reception, and I hope it was well attended.
While our Administration and City Council can not seem to find the wherewithal to work as a team to improve our city, at least those outside of Bessemer can see that its potential lies not only in areas known to the council and local developers by their exit numbers but also in its historic downtown.
As in science where one must work with the evidence that one has in spite of the realization that future findings may lead one down a different path, in historic preservation we do the same. An entire block of historic buildings was destroyed to make way for what looks to be a very ugly courthouse being built. Don’t get me wrong, the courthouse is needed but I have not seen anything that leads me to believe the new building will add to the collection of architectural gems that we have in our city. We need to take advantage of what we still have, before other historic buildings come down.
The Auburn graduate students who designed this plan understand the value of preserving our history, so they have taken that into account as they worked to create this plan. No one will agree with everything they proposed, we already know that from comments made at the meetings where preliminary ideas were discussed. But we can all agree that without a plan, the city center will continue to decline, more buildings will crumble, and customers will leave.
These are not ideas put forth by city leaders; in fact few of them attended the earlier sessions to give input. This is a plan for citizens to embrace and then we must persuade our elected officials to work toward the portions that we as individuals or civic groups choose. Several years ago a plan for our city was developed with community input and that plan has been completely ignored. Let’s not ignore this one.
The Urban Studio Master Plan raises my level of excitement about Downtown Bessemer. Having seen how their plans have helped other cities to take advantage of their forgotten resources gives me hope that Bessemer can do the same.
If you have not seen the plans go by the Bessemer Chamber of Commerce or attend a Bessemer Neighborhood Association meeting to view them. Then get involved.
Other places to see the plan or get a copy include the Bessemer Development Board or give me a call or email. We will get a copy to you.
Nice.
I have high hopes that some of the ideas put forth will become reality, more so than with previous attempts to revive our city center. Part of the reason for this is because five of our seven city council members attended last night and each received a copy of the plan. Past attempts at reviving our city have not garnered this kind of attention from elected officials.
Another reason is the strong showing last night by members of the Bessemer Historical Homeowners Association. While rebuilding downtown for the most part is not about preserving old homes, we (BHHA members) see the value in downtown development and how our historic neighbohoods connect to this area. (Especially now that we have seen the plan). BHHA has a diverse membership from throughout the city (and beyond) that will talk this plan up among friends, business leaders and neighbors to increase support.
This plan is not going to be put on a shelf and forgotten. The Bessemer Downtown Redevelopment Authority and the Bessemer Development Board are going to continue presenting the plan to civic groups, associations, schools and any other group that is interested.
Urban Studio has done these projects in over 40 communities around the state. In the past, their presentation has been in the form of an informative map that shows potential improvements and such. But for Bessemer, for the first time, they decided to use both sides of the poster, one for the traditional plan for the future, and on the back side is proposed neighborhood development for several areas and some proposals about Greenways and Trail connections.
We have been trying to get the city interested in connecting to Red Mountain Park for years with little response. This plan shows how it could be done. The land to the west of Red Mountain Park, extending into Bessemer is largely under one ownership, and if this land could be acquired to (or beyond) highway 150, the old rail bed leading to the city along 150 could be made into a connecting trail. This railway passes over the Avenues that enter the historic southside and leads to the (also historic) elevated trestle near Carolina Avenue, which could be part of an extended walkway leading to the proposed RailRoad Park between Carolina and First Avenues. In my opinion this would be the crown jewel of the expanded park system proposed. And it would link Bessemer not only to Birmingham but also to Mountain Brook's Jemison Trail, the Vulcan Trail and Homewood's Shades Creek Greenway that we see when we drive on Lakeshore Drive.
There are people who would love to run such a trail, or ride a bike from Bessemer to Vulcan. Me, me!!!
Other trail connections include extending the Valley Creek Trail from its proposed end in Brighton into Bessemer, along the creek to Powder Plant road and the Alabama Adventure and new high school area. There are other rails to trails type proposals in the plan as well.
My column in The Western Tribune today is about this plan also. Here it is for those of you who do not read the paper (shame on you...just kidding).
On Tuesday the Master Plan for Downtown Bessemer as envisioned by the Auburn University Urban Studio graduate students was unveiled. The public was invited to the reception, and I hope it was well attended.
While our Administration and City Council can not seem to find the wherewithal to work as a team to improve our city, at least those outside of Bessemer can see that its potential lies not only in areas known to the council and local developers by their exit numbers but also in its historic downtown.
As in science where one must work with the evidence that one has in spite of the realization that future findings may lead one down a different path, in historic preservation we do the same. An entire block of historic buildings was destroyed to make way for what looks to be a very ugly courthouse being built. Don’t get me wrong, the courthouse is needed but I have not seen anything that leads me to believe the new building will add to the collection of architectural gems that we have in our city. We need to take advantage of what we still have, before other historic buildings come down.
The Auburn graduate students who designed this plan understand the value of preserving our history, so they have taken that into account as they worked to create this plan. No one will agree with everything they proposed, we already know that from comments made at the meetings where preliminary ideas were discussed. But we can all agree that without a plan, the city center will continue to decline, more buildings will crumble, and customers will leave.
These are not ideas put forth by city leaders; in fact few of them attended the earlier sessions to give input. This is a plan for citizens to embrace and then we must persuade our elected officials to work toward the portions that we as individuals or civic groups choose. Several years ago a plan for our city was developed with community input and that plan has been completely ignored. Let’s not ignore this one.
The Urban Studio Master Plan raises my level of excitement about Downtown Bessemer. Having seen how their plans have helped other cities to take advantage of their forgotten resources gives me hope that Bessemer can do the same.
If you have not seen the plans go by the Bessemer Chamber of Commerce or attend a Bessemer Neighborhood Association meeting to view them. Then get involved.
Other places to see the plan or get a copy include the Bessemer Development Board or give me a call or email. We will get a copy to you.
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