<p>*I dunno, mom2collegekids, they’ve made an effort to gussy up the northern gateway into campus. Also, you do get a good look at the new residence halls, and it’s the easiest way to get the Ferguson Center and the Student Services Center. *</p>
<p>I totally agree that they made a nice entrance at the northern gateway, but for someone who’s never seen Bama, that doesn’t give the wow factor that coming upon the Quad area does. </p>
<p>And, since the CSDay people will heading towards Bryant Conference Center, they need to approach from University Drive. </p>
<p>*McFarland Boulevard just after you exit from the interstate (at Exit 73) is not what I would want to give as a the first impression of the city. Unless you want pawn shops, pay-day loan store, low-end motels and shuttered businesses to be the first impression of the city. *</p>
<p>Actually, there’s a mix of businesses after you exit at McFarland. </p>
<p>I agree that **right off the interstate **there are some of what you’ve mentioned, but there are also a lot of new things going in - including some new hotels. And, once you’re quickly past that, you come upon the nice area where Midtown Village is. </p>
<p>So, I always have people approach from McFarland Blvd, so that first-time visitors can see that there are a variety of familiar stores (Best Buy, Barnes & Noble, Target, etc) and restaurants that are nearby for their convenience. </p>
<p>Anyone who’s been in a city of 100,000+ people, is going to know that such a city will have poorer areas, middle-class areas, and affluent areas. Anyone who is appalled to see a low-income area in a city needs to go back and fully drive around their own city. LOL</p>