Fairhope, Alabama
'URBAN BLIGHT' A PROBLEM
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761 Northrup before demolition |
The city's building official continues the removal of neighborhood eyesores around town; an abandoned house at 761 Northrup Ave. (south of the hospital) was the latest -- and another one on the same street could be next (if the owner does not make repairs).
Still another on S. Scenic 98 is being scrutinized as well, according to department sources.
Sometimes the ownership of such properties is hard to determine; after demolition, a lien is placed on the property itself by the city attorney to recover the demo-costs.
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761 Northrup after demolition |
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Next Northrup Ave. demo? |
COUNCILMAN'S HOUSE A CONCERN TOO
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Ford's house 8477 Fairhope Ave. |
A small home in a highly-visible location at the corner of Bishop Rd. and Fairhope Ave. is drawing criticism to the Times from citizens as well: This one is actually owned by long-time city councilman and realtor Mike Ford -- who uses the back rooms for storage and his son Patrick lives in the front part.
The house, 8477 Fairhope Ave., is outside of the city limits and the property un-zoned.
Some neighbors worry about reduced property values and others the embarrassment to the city having such a run-down structure adjacent to the county's satellite courthouse and intermediate school.
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Councilman Ford |
In 2008, when questioned about it by his election opponent Phil Brady, Ford told the media he planned to build a law office there for one of his sons after he graduated law school; but recently, when a Times reporter questioned why that was never done, Ford replied vaguely that he was only responding to political accusations at that time (2008); he did not mention his current plans for the property -- or why not annex it into the city and pay city property taxes to set an example for other citizens (get zoning too).
Mayor Kant told the Times he thought Ford wanted to hold on to it so he could leave it to one of his his daughters some day; and councilman Burrell speculated that maybe Ford could not afford to clean/fix up the property now because of the great expense of caring for his sick wife.
A Times inquiry to county commissioner Chris Elliot about the possibility of the county acquiring and fixing up the property has so-far received no reply.
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8477 Fairhope Ave. |
County tax records show the property's total appraised value as only $104,700, $17,200 of that for the building.
(If you know of more blighted properties around town tell us about them in the comments section or contact us privately fairhopetimes@centurylik.net.)
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Patrick J. Ford |
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