In 1957, Eastwood Mall opened in east Birmingham. At the time it was the largest indoor shopping mall in the country. Recognizing the eminent threat suburban shopping posed to downtown, a forward thinking group of businessmen formed the Downtown Improvement Association with the singular purpose of preventing the disintegration of the downtown business district.
Although much of downtown’s traditional retail establishments did eventually close or move to the suburbs, the group's early plans and efforts did result in many of the infrastructure developments that we enjoy today: a major Convention Complex, a regional US Postal facility, a new central library, an interstate freeway system looping the city, the renovation of Linn Park (formerly Woodrow Wilson Park) and many others. The group also laid the groundwork for development that would adapt buildings once housing retail for other uses such as office buildings and residential units.
In 1963, the BDIA changed its name to Operation New Birmingham, but its mission remained the same: the revitalization of the central business district. During the Civil Rights movement of the 1960's, elected city officials charged ONB with a second broad mission: the promotion of racial and ethnic harmony and justice in our community. ONB responded by forming the Community Affairs Committee, a group of local business leaders whose first task was to work with Civil Rights leaders to smooth integration of businesses and public facilities.
Once that was accomplished, CAC moved on to the larger goal of devising strategies to combat racial and ethnic discord wherever it arose. CAC members have met every Monday morning since the organization’s inception to share frank discussions about issues related to racial justice and harmony.