Birmingham residents seek shelter after condemned flats due to power outages

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — Ten units at the Twin Gates apartment complex are now condemned by the City of Birmingham for property maintenance violations.

When CBS 42 last spoke with tenants of the property, they said an interior fire caused Alabama Power to turn off power to part of the building on June 9.

Since then, the building has been without power for 15 days – leaving some residents with no choice but to continue living in the affected units. However, that changed once the sentencing notices were issued on Thursday.

On Monday, tenants said they were still having trouble contacting building management about the issues. Jimmy Harper, a resident who has lived in the building for five years, isn’t sure what the plans are.

“I’ve been there since the third day when it happened, and I actually had to get out of the apartment,” Harper said. “The only thing I was told is that the process will take a long time. One of the tenants said he was contacted to move to another apartment complex, but I have not been contacted.”

Multiple calls by CBS 42 to Warrior Equity Group and Twin Gates’ owner were not returned as of this writing.

The following is a statement obtained Monday from a spokesman for the city of Birmingham:

As of last Thursday (6/20/24), the ten units at 7749 2nd Avenue S were condemned by the city’s Division of Housing Code Enforcement for property maintenance violations. This means that individuals cannot live in those properties unless identified repairs and reductions have taken place and been approved by the appropriate inspectors.

Deficiencies listed to be corrected under the Birmingham Property Maintenance Code (BPMC) are as follows:

– Properly repair or replace all damaged, damaged or broken windows, skylights, door frames, window frames, sashes and sills to ensure a weathertight fit. Section 304.13 of the BPMC.

– Properly install adequate electrical service throughout the structure to prevent a hazard to occupants or the structure. Section 604.3 of the BPMC.

– Replace or reattach all loose, defective or missing cover plates, accessories, sockets, switches and cables. Section 604.3 of the BPMC.

-604.3.3 Reduction of electrical hazards associated with fire exposure. The provisions of this section shall govern the repair and replacement of electrical systems and equipment that have been exposed to fire.

-604.3.2.1 Electrical equipment. Electrical switches, outlets and fixtures, including the furnace, water heater, security system and power distribution circuits that have been exposed to fire, shall be replaced in accordance with the provisions of the International Building Code.”

Spokesman for the City of Birmingham