Council directs demolition of two unsafe structures on Dow Avenue after owner speaks

The Birmingham City Council voted to adopt two resolutions (items 20 and 21) finding buildings on Dow Avenue SW unsafe, declaring them public nuisances and directing demolition. The resolutions apply to properties listed at 3012 Dow Avenue SW and an adjacent parcel also referenced as 3000 Dow Avenue SW in the Jones Valley neighborhood (District 7).

Property owner Nathan Thompson addressed the council and said the parcels were tied up in estate litigation after his father's death in 2021 and that he only became the registered owner the prior Friday. Thompson requested a 90-day delay to secure and repair the property, said he had formed a limited liability company to manage the property and had begun outreach to potential grantors (including Alabama Power Foundation). Thompson said he was denied immediate access to public records initially but later provided residency documentation and viewed photographs provided by the condemnation office.

Councilors pressed Thompson on maintenance and timing; several members said absentee ownership and long-term neglect are common concerns and stressed the city's priority on public safety and neighborhood conditions. The city attorney told the council Thompson's earlier public-records interaction was incomplete and not the basis for withholding action. After discussion the council called the vote and the clerk announced the resolutions passed by voice vote.

The resolutions direct the condemnation office to proceed with demolition under the city's code. Thompson said he intends to rehabilitate the property if given the opportunity but the council prioritized immediate public-safety concerns because the structures are next to a school and had visible openings in the condemnation photographs.