City Offers Help to Renovate Homes in Blighted Neighborhoods
Two big economic development projects in Birmingham may pay off for city neighborhoods. Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin announced a program Wednesday to spend $1 million on home renovations in blighted neighborhoods.
The program will improve 100 homes in 100 days. Woodfin says the money comes from the sale of two city properties: a downtown parking deck after the grocery delivery app Shipt expanded, and the site of a new data center planned near Sixth Avenue South.
Those sales generated $1.6 million, city officials say. Some of it will also go toward demolition and administration of the home repair program.
Low-income residents or senior citizens who own their homes can apply for assistance. Woodfin says the city will offer up to $10,000 for each approved home.
“Our plan is to bundle our work to transform entire blocks instead of renovating one home on a street, which would otherwise be surrounded by blight,” Woodfin says.
The program’s initial phase will focus on five neighborhoods. Woodfin says there could be similar programs in the future.
The city is partnering with Neighborhood Housing Services for the renovation program. Interested applicants should contact NHS at 205-328-4292 or via email at [email protected]. Laborers interested in working on the renovations should also contact NHS.
Crew of fatal US military crash included Alabama father recently deployed
The six U.S. service members who died in the crash of a U.S. military refueling aircraft included an Alabama father who had just been promoted and deployed. The U.S. government released the identities of the deceased service members Saturday.
Alabama poised to drastically overhaul utility regulation. Will it lower electric bills?
The Alabama Senate unanimously voted to expand the public service commission, and create a Secretary of Energy to address rising electricity prices. A bill in the House would go even further, requiring rate case hearings and limiting utility profits.
Musher from Alabama is going for back-to-back Iditarod wins
Riches and paid appearances haven’t followed Jessie Holmes since he won the world’s most famous sled dog race, the Iditarod, last year. He doesn't mind.
Bill would move Alabama to closed primaries
Right now, any Alabama voter can participate in a primary election. Lawmakers in Montgomery took up a bill this week that would change that system.
Auburn football player uses NIL funds to open a community hub in Birmingham
Jourdin Crawford, a freshman defensive lineman at Auburn, used earnings from a Name, Image, and Likeness deal to give back to his hometown.
Ivey commutes death sentence of inmate whose accomplice fired fatal shot
Charles “Sonny” Burton was sentenced to death for the killing of Doug Battle during a 1991 robbery. However, another man shot Battle when Burton had left the building.
