2015 State of the City address
Birmingham Mayor William Bell's 2015 State of the City address was delivered on Tuesday January 13, 2015, at the end of his 5th year in office. Bell addressed the the Kiwanis Club of Birmingham at luncheon in the Harbert Center, and reprised his speech at 6:00 PM at the newly rebuilt Birmingham Fire Station No. 18 in Pratt City.
During the address, Bell enthused about the successful continuing development of the Westin Birmingham and Uptown entertainment district, and the Parkside district surrounding Regions Field and Railroad Park. He outlined plans already announced for redevelopment of the A. G. Gaston Motel as a conference and study center as part of an ongoing effort to leverage the city's important Civil Rights history for economic development. He also touted the potential for the recently-organized Birmingham Land Bank Authority to spur reinvestment city-wide.
Bell also spoke of his role as mayor in providing leadership for the improvement of Birmingham City Schools. He outlined a program under development by the city, the Birmingham Board of Education and area community colleges to provide scholarships to the city's high school graduates. Bell also took the opportunity to hint at a pending announcement of a new manufacturing facility employing 500 or more workers.
After his address, Bell was asked about plans for a domed stadium and his reaction to the termination of the UAB Blazers football team. He emphasized the importance of UAB's relationship with the city and said that he was disappointed that the community wasn't given more opportunity to step up and help offset deficits in the football program. He said that even without UAB as a tenant, that partnerships were still in the works to be able to begin planning for a new indoor stadium at the BJCC.
References
- Bryant, Joseph D. (January 13, 2015) "Birmingham Mayor William Bell reviews successes, talks dome, schools and new development in State of the City address ." The Birmingham News
- Owens, Cody (January 13, 2015) "Ring the Bell" Weld for Birmingham