Why I Think Mountain Brook, Alabama is A Successful Community
When most people hear of Mountain Brook, Alabama they have a lot of preconceived notions about the community and the people who live there. Mountain Brook is known as an incredibly high-end community that is within a 10 minute driving distance away from downtown Birmingham. There are definitely many factors as to why Mountain Brook has become so successful since its inception in the 1920s and I am going to break down some of the physical factors below.
Non-monotony
One of the main reason that people are drawn to the physical aspects of Mountain brook is the non-monotony of home typologies. When driving through the many winding roads of Mountain Brook, every single house has different features. There are a mix of older cottage style homes in Crestline, larger estates near Mountain Brook village that have many different types of materials and shapes. This aspect of the community makes Mountain Brook feel like it isn't a development of cookie cutter homes. I think that this factor makes people feel like they are living in an older town where houses were added individually one by one and that their home is special and recognizable among the many different homes that exist in the community.
Natural terrain and landscape
One of the most recognizable features of Mountain Brook is the winding roads with dense tree canopy. Many of the roads are lined with incredibly old trees and the houses along them are snuggled into the topography. Unlike a typical suburbia, the terrain wasn't simply flattened to accomodate for a mass development, rather, the houses use the natural terrain to their advantage. Of course the high amount of money in Mountain Brook is mostly to thank for the preservation of trees and natural terrain, but the landscape features are what continue to make people want to move and live there. The high density of trees give a "woodsy" feeling despite living in a large and bustling community. Another important aspect to mention is the lack of cul-de-sacs. Of course there are some, but the winding roads and nature of the community makes it so that almost every road is connected to another. This helps the community to feel more natural and less like a development.
Villages
Mountain Brook has several "villages" that house many different local restaurants and boutiques. Beyond just giving the community a sense of identity, these places serve as hubs for social events and oftentimes Crestline village is packed with middle schoolers walking around and eating after the school day ends. The villages are spread out through the community so for many, one of the villages is more easily accessible to them than another. Iconic restaurants and candy shops to the community have stayed in the villages for ages and are a fun place to adults and children alike. The villages make people feel like they are apart of something greater and are the glue that holds the community together.
Green Space and Walking trails
Mountain Brook has a ton of walking trails and green space available to residents and visitors alike. One of the most popular trails, Jemison trail, has about 4 miles worth of walking trails that goes along Shades Creek. The trail is almost entirely covered by shade from trees and is constantly being used by families, joggers, and individuals. This is just one of the many amenities beloved by Mountain Brook residents. Easy access to an excellent walking trail like Jemison is one of the things that residents love about Mountain Brook. To emphasize the amount of trees in Jemison, it is important to note that Mountain Brook has been designated a Tree City USA, which is a pretty big accomplishment.
Overall, there is reason why Mountain Brook has become such an esteemed community that is beloved by its residents. Many of the features of Mountain Brook are different than that of a typical suburban sprawl neighborhood, making it feel like a breath of fresh air compared to many other neighborhoods.
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