Reviving Birmingham’s Fountain Heights Community with 25 New Homes
New vibrancy is imminent in the Fountain Heights community of Birmingham, as area leaders, residents, and the Birmingham Land Bank Authority broke ground on what will be the first of 25 new homes. Bonderia Lyons, President of the Fountain Heights Neighborhood Association, has expressed, in no uncertain terms, the transformative significance of this development for the community.
A Fresh Start for Fountain Heights Community
Friday’s groundbreaking marked what could be the start of a brighter future for Fountain Heights, at 1138 12th Ct N, which has battled with issues of vacant and abandoned properties. Lyons said, “This is an opportunity to reimagine Fountain Heights and rebuild it into the historic community that it once was. This is an opportunity to get sidewalks repaved; to have new lighting in our community; to have safer neighborhoods and a diverse community.”
Birmingham Land Bank’s Role
The Birmingham Land Bank Authority acquires vacant and abandoned properties and seeks to transfer ownership to responsible caretakers. The city frequently undergoes legal processes to maintain the appearance of these properties which often include overgrown, abandoned lots. Bringing new life to these neglected spots of land is central to the mission of this initiative.
Accelerating Home Ownership
As part of its efforts to turn things around in Fountain Heights, the Birmingham Land Bank Authority rolled out its Accelerated Home Ownership Program last year. According to Caroline Douglas, the Executive Director of the Birmingham Land Bank, the program aligns with the belief that “Everyone deserves a home; from the student temporarily renting an apartment, the young family who decides to buy a home, and the unsheltered.”
Mayor Woodfin’s Vision for Housing Renaissance
Birmingham’s Mayor Randall Woodfin echoed Douglas’s sentiments, emphasizing the dire need for new housing in the area. “We want to go vertical on these lots with more single-family homes, affordable, market-rate, insert whatever term you want,” Woodfin said, “The residents who live here deserve better. For community, we want it to be better. The best thing we can do is build more housing.” Mayor Woodfin also noted that residents had suffered long enough under uncaring landlords allowing their properties to decay.
Conclusion
The groundbreaking event represents a hopeful shift for Fountain Heights, symbolizing the community’s strides toward achieving greater residential stability, safety, and prosperity. The joint efforts of the Birmingham Land Bank Authority, Mayor Woodfin, and other area leaders, in collaboration with the local community, are revitalizing the neighborhood and building a brighter future for its residents.
