Birmingham commission declares 611 Elm Street a dangerous structure, orders demolition if owner does not act

The Birmingham City Commission voted to declare the property at 611 Elm Street (also shown as 635 Elm) a dangerous structure and ordered the owner to demolish it within 30 days or face city-initiated demolition and a lien for costs. Building Official Jeff Silke presented a multi-year enforcement timeline and photos showing collapsing ceilings, standing water, mold and roof failures, and said the property has been under ongoing review since at least early 2024.

City Attorney Mary Kucera told the commission that the property violates Birmingham’s adoption of the International Property Maintenance Code (cited in the packet as section 115.15) and showed that notices of violation and follow-up correspondence were issued in February 2024, May 2024 and July 2025. Kucera summarized the statutory criteria the city used to support condemnation, saying the structure is “neglected, damaged, dilapidated, unsecured, or abandoned” and poses a hazard and nuisance to the neighborhood.

The owner, Ralph Farranzo, and his counsel, Alan Applebaum, presented two engineering reports and argued the building can be repaired. Farranzo said he hired contractors (including asbestos and mold-remediation specialists) and that two structural engineers’ letters concluded there was no imminent threat of collapse and that the exterior masonry and foundation could be repaired. A remediation contractor said mold and asbestos have been or can be removed and that interior gutting and remediation are feasible.

Commissioners pressed the owner on steps taken after notices, whether permits were pulled, and the timing of mitigation efforts. Several commissioners and the building official said demo permits had at times been pulled for related parcels but that remediation and demolition efforts stalled. Commissioner comments emphasized public-safety risk to neighboring businesses and pedestrians, the age of the interior photographs (staff noted some interior photos were taken in October 2025) and continuing weather exposure since the most recent inspections.

After debate, the commission adopted a resolution declaring the property a dangerous structure, finding it unfit for human habitation due to lack of maintenance, insanitary conditions and contamination in violation of the city’s codes and the International Property Maintenance Code. The resolution directs the property owner to demolish the structure within 30 days; if the owner fails to do so the city manager is directed to complete demolition and place a lien on the property for the cost. The motion carried on a roll-call vote and the notice of the decision will be entered into the public record.

Next steps: staff will finalize the demolition timeline and legal notices; the owner may pursue available administrative or legal remedies during the 30-day compliance period.