Magic City Marketplace: A Long Time Coming

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2015/03/14580303959_4be7bde991_Second-Avenue-North-in-Birmingham.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:500;s:6:"height";i:305;s:4:"file";s:68:"2015/03/14580303959_4be7bde991_Second-Avenue-North-in-Birmingham.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:5:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:68:"14580303959_4be7bde991_Second-Avenue-North-in-Birmingham-336x205.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:205;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:68:"14580303959_4be7bde991_Second-Avenue-North-in-Birmingham-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:66:"14580303959_4be7bde991_Second-Avenue-North-in-Birmingham-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:68:"14580303959_4be7bde991_Second-Avenue-North-in-Birmingham-434x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:434;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:68:"14580303959_4be7bde991_Second-Avenue-North-in-Birmingham-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}}
        )

    [_imagify_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:155887;s:14:"optimized_size";i:150326;s:7:"percent";d:3.5699999999999998;}s:5:"sizes";a:7:{s:4:"full";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:96:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/03/14580303959_4be7bde991_Second-Avenue-North-in-Birmingham.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:94248;s:14:"optimized_size";i:89390;s:7:"percent";d:5.1500000000000004;}s:9:"thumbnail";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:104:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/03/14580303959_4be7bde991_Second-Avenue-North-in-Birmingham-140x140.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:11942;s:14:"optimized_size";i:11701;s:7:"percent";d:2.02;}s:6:"medium";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:104:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/03/14580303959_4be7bde991_Second-Avenue-North-in-Birmingham-336x205.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:35431;s:14:"optimized_size";i:35322;s:7:"percent";d:0.31;}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:102:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/03/14580303959_4be7bde991_Second-Avenue-North-in-Birmingham-80x80.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:4528;s:14:"optimized_size";i:4325;s:7:"percent";d:4.4800000000000004;}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:104:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/03/14580303959_4be7bde991_Second-Avenue-North-in-Birmingham-125x125.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:9738;s:14:"optimized_size";i:9588;s:7:"percent";d:1.54;}}}
        )

    [_imagify_status] => Array
        (
            [0] => success
        )

)
1669540139 
1425859200

Much has been written about the investment and nightlife along Second Avenue North in Birmingham as a sign of the city center’s rising fortune. But the area’s comeback isn’t just a post-recession story. And it’s one economic development leaders hope isn’t done. We talk about that in this week’s Magic City Marketplace. Photo by Internet Archive Book Images

 

Former U.S. Sen. Doug Jones announces run for Alabama governor

Jones announced his campaign Monday afternoon, hours after filing campaign paperwork with the Secretary of State's Office. His gubernatorial bid could set up a rematch with U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, the Republican who defeated Jones in 2020 and is now running for governor. 

Scorching Saturdays: The rising heat threat inside football stadiums

Excessive heat and more frequent medical incidents in Southern college football stadiums could be a warning sign for universities across the country.

The Gulf States Newsroom is hiring an Audio Editor

The Gulf States Newsroom is hiring an Audio Editor to join our award-winning team covering important regional stories across Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana.

Judge orders new Alabama Senate map after ruling found racial gerrymandering

U.S. District Judge Anna Manasco, appointed by President Donald Trump during his first term, issued the ruling Monday putting a new court-selected map in place for the 2026 and 2030 elections.

Construction on Meta’s largest data center brings 600% crash spike, chaos to rural Louisiana

An investigation from the Gulf States Newsroom found that trucks contracted to work at the Meta facility are causing delays and dangerous roads in Holly Ridge.

Bessemer City Council approves rezoning for a massive data center, dividing a community

After the Bessemer City Council voted 5-2 to rezone nearly 700 acres of agricultural land for the “hyperscale” server farm, a dissenting council member said city officials who signed non-disclosure agreements weren’t being transparent with citizens.

More Economy Coverage