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Residents press city on West Side crosswalk repainting and stalled cleanup of burned Sonic site
Summary
Residents asked the council to repaint an ALDOT-maintained crosswalk on the West Side of Tuscaloosa and raised concerns about an abandoned Sonic restaurant that burned in March 2024. City staff said ALDOT maintains the crosswalk and staff will follow up with the property owner about site maintenance; the owner's insurer litigation is ongoing.
Ron Trey Dudd, a West Side resident, asked the council for help getting paint applied to a crosswalk and for action on the burned Sonic restaurant near Walgreens.
—I'm not asking for any lights. I'm not asking for anything like that. Only thing I'm asking for is for us to be able to get some paint on this crosswalk,' he said, pressing for visible improvements to pedestrian safety.
Council members and staff clarified jurisdiction: the council noted the crosswalk is maintained by the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT), and residents were advised to contact their state representative for state-maintained facilities. City staff said they would continue coordination with ALDOT and would follow up with the property owner about site maintenance.
City staff provided a timeline for the burned Sonic on the West Side. City staff said the site —the Sonic in West Tuscaloosa' burned in March 2024, a fire investigation was completed around April 1, a demolition-permit application was filed in August 2024 to remove kitchen equipment, and the operator has been involved in litigation with its insurer since at least June 2025. Staff said the structure currently meets building-code requirements for being secured and stabilized and that code enforcement will continue to press the owner to maintain the property.
Miss Kreitz, identified in the meeting as the executive director of urban development, said code enforcement handles site compliance and that the city had required the property owner to secure the site (the owner paid for the installed fence), while the city will continue follow-up to ensure the site remains tidy.
No council action was taken during the meeting; staff said they would contact the property owner and continue monitoring the site.
