Yes, when I was in law school I lived there. I also know a lot of people that live there. Forrest park is where people with money and no kids or kids in private school live. There a lot of very nice large houses.

Yep, whatever you want, you can find it.

It comes down to this. Almost every person who bashes Birmingham is anti living in a city. I certainly don't support the City of Birmingham's government and make no statements that they are worth a flip. But, the bottom line is, the arguments made against Birmingham are made against every city.

If you don't want to live in a metro area, there are tons of great places to live out in the country. But, just because you don't like it doesn't mean it isn't a good place to live or that other people don't enjoy the positive aspects of living in a metro area.

These threads always end up the same, everyone bashes Jefferson County, but really, aside from taxes, tag lines and "the sewer problems", they are really anti Birmingham. Then they want to say they wouldn't live in Birmingham and use that to say you shouldn't live in Homewood, Mountain Brook, Vestavia or Trussville.


You get the no way I would live in Birmingham or Homewood, but they will live in Gardendale (which is as close to Birmingham as Homewood) or Mcalla (which is by Bessemer, the real shithole of Jefferson County).

When ever someone ask where are good places to live around Birmingham, I take that as around Birmingham. But, the anti crowd always has to tell you, you will get killed, everyone gets murdered. You need to live 30 minutes outside town and fight traffic everyday to get to work.

One thing I would point out to all those Birmingham is dangerous people. Do any of you every look or notice what skin color all those people getting killed are? Or what lead to their murder? 99% are not random and they are black. Same with robberies and every other violent crime. I deal with crime everyday. I can tell you, it is very rare for a white person to be the victim, unless is is a home burglary.

It's where we live now... love it. Though once our kids get closer to school age, we'll be looking for a better school system... but that doesn't apply to OP.

As a new resident (last year) of JeffCo, it aint as bad as folks make it out to be. We have a new tag office Hoover.

Downtown is improving, but no way I would live down there yet.

Stay OTM and you will be fine. The traffic from Shelby county is BRUTAL.

I recommend easing into Shelby county if you can. I live just across the Cahaba river off Caldwell mill. You can get into Shelby county and still be pretty close to the city. It will save you a lot of headaches you would have in Jefferson county. I lived in Moody before that, St clair county is great as well, just would be hard to be very close. The traffic is terrible if coming from Helena or Chelsea into the city, but there are a few spots that its not too bad.

Assuming the stars align and everything works out exactly as I hope I will be taking over SouthBamaSlayers lease in Forest Park.

This could be making for a VERY Aldeer filled story.
Job lead through Aldeer leading to an apartment through Aldeer.

I am excited & grateful for this opportunity.

I feel like this is a brilliant response that has been overlooked.

Hard to find a better place for a young professional to start out in Bham. Tons of stuff to do in that area.

Bibb County, sounds like we are close. I am in the same area, Heatherwood.

I have two bass club buddies that live out that way. Nice area, but I wouldn't want to deal with Caldwell Mill, Valleydale, or 280.

Come out to Springville/odenville. Pretty small town living but starting to produce more fast food restaurants and stores.

I live in Altadena woods, about as close as you can get !

Yeah stay over the mountain away from the tornados,meth and closeness to walker county.Not my fault our goats are baaader than otm.

I use live on Southside, I worked downtown for years even after I moved out and I still own property down there... I have never turned down a good time with some good friends and have trolled every bar, night club and all other hangouts since the cool place to go was Louie Louie's for 75 cent can Miller Lights on Thursday night and a regular showing of David Allen Coe every couple weeks.

I may be old but I'm not that old. Guaranteed 2 blocks over from anywhere y'all deem a nice area is what I call "Indian Country".

You had better pack some fuggin heat. If I had a daughter she would never live down there or anywhere close. A son maybe as long as he had an indifferent attitude towards anything he couldn't bolt down.

Outside of that I like the new areas and spots like Parkside and Avondale Brewery and all that... just better someone else own the dirt than me. That's a couple rapes and maybe a murder away from being a ghost town. If you think that can't happen you haven't been around here long enough. That's what happened to the Five Points area. Crime got out of control. Than then Police couldn't get it back under control. They use to have them standing on top of buildings doing surveillance and still couldn't get a handle on it.

And B'ham Cops haven't changed one bit. Maybe folks don't need to steal as much since your last President got everyone signed up for a check, but I'm here to tell you it goes down daily and you never hear anything about it.

And BTW I've been the subject of an attempted Robbery myself SEVERAL times around UAB late night. If you want to Mexican carry it that's fine with me... but you'd better have it. Only thing that saved my arse.

Whew. Got banned for life in there one night. We went back two weeks later.

Goatkiller a lot has changed in the last 10 years in Birmingham. Hell, Louie's has been closed for over 20 years.

Goat is right on about 5 points. It had lots of issues with crime.

Bottom line, you are close to low income black areas. There will be crime potential in the night life spots.

Your not gonna get killed living in bham but there are alot of wierdos and junkies in that area. Alot of foot traffic around there... get caught slippin (leaving things unsecured) and they will make you pay.

Headed downtown now for belated Valentine dinner at Café DuPont; bet I live to report on a nice meal.