Five Points West Birmingham isn’t just a spot on a map; it’s basically the heartbeat of the west side. If you’ve spent any time in the Magic City, you know that neighborhoods here have layers, and Five Points West is like a thick book with half the chapters still being written. It’s an area defined by the massive presence of the Birmingham CrossPlex, the historic vibes of the Fair Park area, and a community that is honestly tired of being overlooked by downtown-centric developers.
You’ve got this unique intersection of history and high-stakes athletics. It’s gritty. It’s real. It’s a place where you can grab a quick bite at a local spot and then walk over to a world-class track and field facility that cost $46 million to build. That contrast defines the current state of the neighborhood. While some people might just see it as a transit hub or a place they pass through on the way to a high school football game, there is a much deeper story about economic resilience and the struggle to bring back the retail glory days of the 1960s.
The CrossPlex Effect and the Reality of Five Points West Birmingham
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: the Birmingham CrossPlex.
When the city decided to tear down the old Alabama State Fairgrounds and put up a massive indoor hydraulic track, a natatorium, and a volleyball arena, the promise was simple. They said it would spark a total transformation of Five Points West Birmingham. Has it? Well, yes and no. It brought the NCAA. It brought indoor track championships that fill up every hotel room for miles. But if you talk to people living on Avenue W or Bessemer Road, the "trickle-down" hasn't always felt like a flood. It's more of a steady drip.
The facility itself is a marvel. It has a 200-meter hydraulically banked track—one of only a handful in the entire world. That’s huge. We are talking about Olympic-level athletes training in the middle of a neighborhood that, frankly, still struggles with food deserts and a lack of high-end grocery options.
The city has poured money into this specific corner. We saw the Bill Harris Arena get its much-needed love, and the addition of the Comfort Inn & Suites nearby was a major win. Before that hotel went up, visitors for track meets were staying in Hoover or downtown, taking their tax dollars with them. Now, they’re at least staying in the neighborhood. But the "CrossPlex Village" development has been a slow burn. We got the Starbucks—which was a massive symbolic victory for the area—and a few fast-casual spots like Smoothie King, but the community is still hungry for more sit-down dining and diverse retail.
Why People Get the History Wrong
Most folks think Five Points West Birmingham started with the mall.
The Five Points West Shopping City, which opened back in the late 1940s, was actually Alabama’s first major shopping center. It predates the suburban mall craze by years. Back then, it was the "downtown" for the western section of the city. You had JCPenney, you had local boutiques, and you had a bustling crowd every Saturday. It wasn't just a place to buy shoes; it was the social glue of the community.
The decline didn't happen overnight. It was a slow migration of capital toward the Highway 280 corridor and the northern suburbs. As the steel industry shifted and the demographic makeup of the city evolved, Five Points West found itself in a bit of a limbo. The Alabama State Fair, which used to be the highlight of the year at the Fair Park, eventually moved or faded in relevance, leaving a vacuum.
When you walk around the area today, you see the bones of that mid-century greatness. The layout is still very much centered around that five-way intersection where Bessemer Road, Bush Boulevard, and 47th Street meet. It’s a busy, high-traffic corridor. That traffic is exactly what developers are looking at now. They aren't looking at it through the lens of 1950s nostalgia, though. They’re looking at the nearly 20,000 cars that pass through daily and wondering why more of those people aren't stopping to spend money.
The Library, the Transit, and the Daily Grind
One of the most underrated gems in Five Points West Birmingham is the West End Branch Library.
It’s not just about books. In this neighborhood, the library is a tech hub, a cooling station, and a career center. If you want to understand the soul of the community, sit in that parking lot for twenty minutes. You’ll see students, retirees, and entrepreneurs. It’s one of the busiest branches in the Birmingham Public Library system for a reason.
Then there’s the Birmingham Intermodal Facility and the bus rapid transit (BRT) system, known as the BX or Birmingham Xpress. This was a game-changer. The 10-mile corridor connects Five Points West to Woodlawn, cutting straight through downtown.
Transit is a touchy subject in Birmingham. For years, the system was... let's say "unreliable" to be polite. The BRT changed the math for people living in Five Points West. It gave them a legitimate, high-frequency link to the UAB medical district and the financial center. It makes the neighborhood viable for people who don't want to rely on a car, which is a growing demographic even in a car-centric city like this one.
Misconceptions about Safety and Investment
It’s time to be blunt. Five Points West Birmingham has a reputation problem in some circles.
If you look at the local news, you’ll see reports of crime that color people's perception of the entire western side of the city. But talk to the business owners in the Five Points West Commercial District. Talk to the folks who have been running shops there for thirty years. They’ll tell you it’s a neighborhood of families, churches, and legacy homeowners.
The investment is coming, but it’s coming in "clusters."
The city’s strategic plan for the area involves "Transit-Oriented Development." Basically, they want to build density around the BRT stations. We are starting to see interest in mixed-use residential projects that would put apartments right above retail space. That’s a big shift from the sprawling, single-story parking lot model of the old shopping center.
The struggle is gentrification versus revitalization. Residents want better stores, but they don't want to be priced out of the homes their parents paid off thirty years ago. It’s a delicate balance. The Mayor's office has been pushing for more "attainable" housing in the area, specifically near the CrossPlex, to ensure that the people who work in the neighborhood can actually afford to live there.
What is Actually Happening Right Now?
If you drove through Five Points West today, you’d see a mix of the old and the new that’s honestly kind of jarring.
- The Food Scene: You have the staples. Seafood Junction is a local powerhouse. You’ll see lines for their crab boils that wrap around the building. Then you have the newer arrivals like the Starbucks, which stays packed with students and professionals.
- Public Works: The city is constantly tweaking the infrastructure around the "Five Points" intersection itself. It’s a notorious headache for drivers, but it’s the price you pay for being the central hub of the West Side.
- The Fairgrounds Redevelopment: There is still a lot of vacant land around the CrossPlex. The long-term goal is a true "entertainment district" that mirrors what happened at Uptown near the BJCC. We aren't there yet. It’s still mostly potential.
- Health Care: Access is improving. With the proximity to Princeton Baptist Medical Center just down the road in West End, Five Points West is part of a larger medical corridor that provides a lot of the stable jobs in the area.
Actionable Insights for Residents and Investors
Whether you’re looking to move to the area, start a business, or just visiting for an event at the CrossPlex, you need a strategy. This isn't a "plug and play" neighborhood like some of the cookie-cutter suburbs.
For Business Owners: Focus on the "Wait Time." Thousands of parents spend hours at the CrossPlex every weekend while their kids compete. They are bored. They have money. They want somewhere to sit, use Wi-Fi, and eat something that didn't come out of a concession stand deep fryer. If you can provide a "third space" environment, you will win here.
For Homebuyers: Look at the historic bungalows in the surrounding streets like Belview Heights. The architecture is stunning—think craftsman style with wide porches. These houses are often half the price of similar homes in Avondale or Crestwood. The "sweat equity" potential is massive, especially as the BRT makes commuting easier.
For Visitors: Don't just stay in the CrossPlex bubble. Venture a few blocks out. Check out the local libraries, support the independent restaurants on Bessemer Road, and understand that your presence helps justify further private investment in the area.
The Bottom Line on Five Points West Birmingham
This neighborhood is in a transition phase. It has moved past the era of post-industrial decline and is currently trying to find its identity as a sports and transit hub. It’s not perfect. The "food desert" label still applies to parts of the area, and there are vacant storefronts that need love.
But the energy is different than it was ten years ago. There is a sense of ownership among the residents. They are showing up to neighborhood association meetings and demanding that the CrossPlex benefits them, not just the tourists.
If you want to see where Birmingham is going, don’t just look at the cranes over UAB. Drive out to Five Points West. Watch the BX bus pull into the station. Smell the seafood. Listen to the roar of the crowd at the track meet. That is the sound of a neighborhood that refused to fade away.
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Next Steps for Engaging with Five Points West Birmingham:
- Visit the Birmingham CrossPlex calendar to see upcoming events; attending a local meet is the best way to see the facility's impact firsthand.
- Support the West End Branch Library by attending their community workshops or donating to the Friends of the BPL; they are the primary resource for local workforce development.
- Explore the Zillow listings in Belview Heights and Bush Hills if you are an investor or first-time buyer looking for historic architecture at a lower price point than the Birmingham average.
- Patronize the local restaurants along the Bessemer Road corridor to ensure that local dollars stay within the 35208 and 35218 zip codes, supporting the existing community fabric while the area grows.