Woodfin Unveils Neighborhood-First 2026 Agenda

Birmingham Mayor Randall L. Woodfin has outlined a neighborhood-focused legislative agenda for 2026, asking State lawmakers for new tools to combat blight, return vacant property to use, and expand affordable housing across the city.

City leaders say the package of proposals, now under review in the Alabama Legislature, is designed to strengthen neighborhoods and help longtime residents remain in the communities they helped build.

“Birmingham’s legislative agenda is about one thing: giving our city the tools it needs to hold negligent property owners accountable, revitalize neighborhoods, and keep housing affordable for the people who call Birmingham home,” Woodfin said. “Strong neighborhoods are the foundation of a strong city.”

The Mayor’s office says the proposals address several stages of neighborhood decline. The plan includes measures to acquire abandoned property, prevent blight before it spreads, and ensure residents benefit from new investment in their communities.

The City’s legislative priorities center on several housing and redevelopment initiatives.

One proposal would authorize municipalities to create Community Land Trusts, a model used in cities across the country to support permanent affordable homeownership. The approach separates ownership of the land from the home itself, helping keep housing costs stable for future buyers.

Another measure would update the Jefferson County Land Bank Act. City officials say the change would streamline the process for acquiring tax-delinquent or abandoned property and returning it to productive use. The proposal would also establish a countywide land bank to allow local governments to coordinate redevelopment efforts.

A third proposal would allow Alabama’s Class 1 municipalities—a designation that currently includes only Birmingham—to create mandatory vacant property registries. The program would require owners of long-neglected properties to register them with the City, pay fees, and meet maintenance standards aimed at preventing deterioration.

City leaders are also pushing for the creation of a Birmingham Housing Trust Fund, which would provide a dedicated source of funding for affordable housing development, preservation, and homeowner assistance. Officials say the fund would help ensure working families are not displaced as redevelopment continues across the city.

Woodfin said Birmingham taxpayers often bear the cost of addressing neglected private property.

“Too often, Birmingham taxpayers are forced to spend public dollars tearing down blighted buildings on private property,” Woodfin said. “We should be investing those resources into libraries, parks, and neighborhood amenities instead.”

City officials say stronger enforcement tools could shift responsibility back to property owners while accelerating redevelopment of vacant and abandoned sites.

Similar proposals have been discussed in recent legislative sessions as Birmingham seeks broader authority to address nuisance properties and expand housing options.

Woodfin said the City’s legislative delegation has shown bipartisan support for the effort.

“With this agenda, we’re not asking for special treatment,” Woodfin said. “We’re asking for the same tools cities across America already have — tools that allow us to protect neighborhoods, prevent blight, and invest in the people who live here.”