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Alexander City council adopts demolition ordinance and creates revitalization appropriation to clear blight
Summary
Council approved a stricter demolition/building-fee ordinance and an appropriation to support a revitalization program that staff said will aim to remove about 12–15 residential structures per year; a resident urged tighter definitions before passage but council approved immediate consideration and passage.
The Alexander City Council on May 18 approved changes to building-processing and demolition rules and adopted an ordinance to appropriate funds for a city revitalization program aimed at removing blighted residential structures.
Aaron (staff) presented the demolition and fee amendments, saying the ordinance tightened site and rodent-control requirements and would be enforceable as written. He said staff planned to work with residents who raised concerns and expected to present any requested technical amendments by August if the council approved the ordinance to get work started sooner. “If y'all want to go ahead, we can pass this out. Go ahead and get something started right now and we can always amend a few sections,” Aaron said.
Resident Mark Lorn, who had asked to speak, told the council he supported the ordinance’s intent but urged clearer definitions and less departmental discretion for monetary amounts: “In this ordinance, we don't even really define what demolition is,” he said, asking the council to tighten language before final adoption. Aaron and other council members responded that staff would incorporate valid technical suggestions and that immediate consideration would help the city begin enforcement and protection of sites.
On the revitalization measure, Aaron described a program that would appropriate funds to permit coordinated work among public works, police and fire departments, asbestos testing and site cleanup. He said the goal was to put roughly 12–15 residential structures a year on the ground and use training opportunities with public safety where appropriate. The council approved both the building-processing/demolition ordinance and the revitalization appropriation by voice/hand-raise votes recorded in the meeting as passed unanimously.
The ordinances include a public-facing geocoded map on the city website to let residents see properties identified for action by address; staff said the map may show square footage and parcel-level details. Councilmembers emphasized that this is taxpayer money being used for neighborhood improvement and said staff would provide timelines and more detail as projects are prioritized.
