“We didn’t get into this business to cut grass,” says Woodfin as Birmingham launches new home program

The Birmingham Land Bank Authority broke ground this week on a new home in Fountain Heights that will be the first of 25 such homes in its new Accelerated Home Ownership Program.

The Land Bank acquires vacant and abandoned properties and hopes to turn them over to responsible owners.

The city routinely goes through legal proceedings to mow grass on overcrowded, vacant and abandoned lots that are not maintained.

“We didn’t get into this business just to tear down dilapidated properties,” said Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin. “We certainly didn’t get into this business to cut grass.”

The new home being built at the corner of 12th Street North and 12th Court North will be the start of what Woodfin hopes will be a housing renaissance for Fountain Heights, which has many vacant and abandoned lots.

“We want to go vertical on these multi-family, affordable, market-rate, put in whatever term you want,” Woodfin said. “The residents who live here deserve better. For the community, we want it to be better. The best thing we can do is build more housing.”