Parking concerns for Birmingham's new Coca-Cola Amphitheater
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — While excitement grows for the opening of the Coca-Cola Ampitheater, which is expected to have a capacity of 9,300, there remains concern over parking and traffic in the area.
The BJCC, who owns two parking decks set to be used for the Ampitheater, said its parking lots will be complete before the Ampitheater's first show on June 22.
Alabama Senate leader says gambling proposal has 'too few votes' to pass
Meanwhile the developers with C&R Endeavors, who are overseeing the project, say that may not be the case on their end.
'We're a little bit behind when it comes to preparing the parking decks that are out there,' said developer Matthew Smith.
Smith took to the city's planning and zoning commission meeting on March 26 and requested to temporarily rezone space within the Druid Hills and Evergreen neighborhoods. Smith said the project to fix the Carraway parking decks won't be complete in time to meet the deadline of the Ampitheater's start date.
'It's not necessarily the discovery of parking; it's a matter of timelines and development. Market conditions haven't been favorable to us,' said Smith.
'We voted for that zoning variance to allow them to use some of the gravel lot for parking,' said Druid Hills Neighborhood President Janet Maycock.
Maycock said though residents have approved Smith's requests, they are concerned with the overcrowding it may cause in their neighborhoods.
'Everything with this is a temporary situation, it's not a permanent situation. We're going to be inconvenienced but our hope is that this is a temporary fix to this situation and that those parking decks will be done when scheduled,' said Maycock.
More Record Highs, Weather Aware Sunday for Strong to Severe Storms
Smith did not give a set date when the Carraway parking decks will be complete, but the temporary request will last one year.
The commission has not made an official vote.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
Soda fans are freaking out over the limited return of beloved Coca-Cola flavor: ‘I have begged to bring this back'
Diet Cherry Coke is reportedly making a comeback just in time for summer — but it won't be on shelves for long. The beloved beverage was discontinued in 2020, marking the first time since its release in 1986 that it was off the shelves in the US. At the time, it was phased out alongside several other Coca-Cola flavors — but it seems that Diet Cherry Coke impacted die-hard fans the most. Advertisement Instagram account @snackolator shared the news that the popular flavor is returning in classic 20 oz bottles and 12 oz 12-can packs, with a nostalgia-fueled, 80s-inspired look many longtime fans may recognize. But before fans leap for joy over this news — the popular flavor will supposedly only be on shelves for a limited time, which sparked plenty of lively debate on social media. 'Why even bring it back at all?? They tempt us and then take it away from us,' commented one fan, lamenting the limited element of the classic cola flavor. Advertisement 'The amount of times I have written to and begged Coke to bring this back!' commented one user under the post. 'I've been drinking Diet Dr. Pepper as a substitute,' said another fan. 'Oh yay! I'm super picky about my diet soda and the Splenda sweetened stuff just didn't hit right. I need the old school carcinogenic aspartame to get my fix,' chimed in someone else. Advertisement Diet Cherry Coke is reportedly returning to Kroger shelves across the country in July 2025, according to the food blog Sporked. 'I work at a Kroger chain, we [already] have shipments for it, just gotta wait for release,' a commenter under the viral @snackolator post added to this claim. There is no official confirmation from Coca-Cola yet on key details — locations, release date or limited timeframe. The Post reached out to the brand for comment. Advertisement According to fans, the absence of the sugar-free soda on shelves has been duly noted. Universal Images Group via Getty Images Rumors of Diet Cherry Coke's return have been swirling since the beginning of the year, when Sporked posted inside findings from Coca-Cola's 2025 Innovation Calendar — other releases of note include new Topo Chico flavors and Coca-Cola Orange Cream. While the Diet Cherry Coke drop is rumored to be limited, others believe it could serve as a trial run to test consumer interest for a more permanent release. Bloomberg via Getty Images While the majority of fans in the comments of the Instagram post were hyped about soon being able to get their hands on Diet Cherry Coke, others wondered if it was truly necessary, considering Cherry Coke Zero exists. 'I'm confused, is this different from what we have at stores now?' questioned one commenter. 'Coke Zero tastes different than Diet Coke. Zero is made with a slightly different artificial sweetener combo in an attempt to make it taste more like regular Coke,' another user explained. As it turns out, many fans who opt for lower-sugar options prefer the taste of Diet Coke to Coke Zero — almost to a fanatical degree. Advertisement 'Where can I find? This is an emergency!' wrote one Diet Cherry Coke drinker. 'Make it permanent,' said someone else.
Newsweek
3 hours ago
- Newsweek
Mom and Dad Return Home—It's Clear Which One Is Golden Retriever's Favorite
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A golden retriever named Smith who has two separate reactions to each of his owners returning home left the internet in stitches. In a June 3 video posted to TikTok by @ a couple returned home to Smith. The dog's mom wanted to capture what happens when each one comes home, as the pup has extremely different reactions to both of his humans. She opened the door to Smith waiting front and center, wagging his tail. While he's excited to see her, Smith is used to her being home. She told Newsweek via TikTok that she works from home and spends nearly all day with him, minus the times she'll run out for quick errands. The TikTok video continues to show how a whole new set of emotions overcame Smith when he got one quick whiff of dad's scent. The dog sprinted out the door, forgetting all about mom, who was still petting his head. His tail sped up at the sight of dad. Bracing for impact, the dad placed his bag on the ground. Smith proceeded to jump up and down, smothering him with kisses. Meanwhile, the mom stood and watched Smith's over-the-top way of greeting his dad. She said she's accepted the fact that this is how it normally goes with Smith's reactions to them coming home. She doesn't fault him, noting she knows she gets more time with Smith than her husband. As the video's caption reads, "No offense, mom!" this owner knows it's nothing personal. "...When I come home from running out quickly, it's not anything exciting," she said. "But when his dad comes home from work every night, it's like a reunion every time!" Screenshots from a June 3 TikTok video of a golden retriever having two separate reactions to his owner's returning home. Screenshots from a June 3 TikTok video of a golden retriever having two separate reactions to his owner's returning home. @ TikTok Users React The TikTok video reached over half a million views and 75,300 likes within a week. People couldn't stop laughing at Smith quickly abandoning his mom to greet his dad. One user wrote: "This child clearly has a favourite." Another posted: "Looks like u the spare human." And a third user commented: "I'd be heartbroken." Several people felt her pain, sharing similar experiences, with one writing: "I had my dog for 14 years before meeting my boyfriend, they met ONE TIME and motherducker instantly forgot who fed him for his whole life!!" Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@ with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
Newsweek
7 hours ago
- Newsweek
Woman Asked to Dog Sit—but There's a Problem: 'Not Safe'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A woman's first day of dog sitting took an unexpected turn when her furry companion strongly resisted having a leash put on. In a TikTok video, the creator captured the confusing facial expression—somewhere between a scowl and a growl—that the dog made every time she tried to come close to her with her leash. Newsweek spoke to professional dog trainer Ali Smith about the dog's behavior and how the new sitter can take on the challenge. "Dog sitting day one and she won't let me put her leash on," the creator captioned the video. "That collar took me abt 2 hours to put on I sat on the couch and she finally came up to me and let me put it on." A dog growls on the couch with its owner. A dog growls on the couch with its video shows the dog making a threatening face each time the sitter approaches, making it clear she was not thrilled about the process. The clip resonated with many TikTok users, who offered varied perspectives on the dog's behavior. "Call the owners," a top-liked comment read. "This is not safe behavior!" But another commenter noted the importance of distinguishing between genuine aggression and a dog's quirky expressions. "For me, it depends on whether they're growling or are showing physical signs that they don't want to," they wrote. "I have a dog that I dog-sit and she looks terrifying, but that's just her grinning 'hello.'" Another user jokingly wished their dog had similar self-preservation instincts: "I wish my dog had boundaries like this. She would literally let anybody take her." An Expert Weighs In Newsweek spoke to Smith, CEO and founder at Rebarkable, a puppy-training platform, about the different perspectives on the situation and why the dog might be resistant to the leash. She offered expert insight into why a dog might react negatively to a collar or leash—even with someone familiar. "There are two core reasons that a dog can be weird about a collar, or any piece of equipment," Smith explained. "That's, one, a lack of familiarity [and] two, poor associations with the collar." She added that the lack of familiarity is usually addressed in puppyhood through the process of socialization. Poor association, on the other hand, is simply learned over time. The pup in the video's aversion could have to do with anything related to the collar—even the sound of the buckle, she said. Smith elaborated on how negative experiences can shape a dog's perception: "Similar to how our dogs often learn vets means bad things happen, if a dog gets 'corrected' via a collar, or physically moved with a collar or similar, they can swiftly build negative associations." For those facing similar challenges to the creator, she offered practical advice to ease the process. "Don't always aim for getting the collar on," she advised. "Even showing pup the collar and them not running away can be a good thing. Reward heavily with tasty treats or play, and you'll start seeing your dog's uncertainty of their collar disappear." Newsweek reached out to @m6069884 for comment via TikTok.
