The Legislature finds all of the following:
(1) It is estimated that within the municipalities of the state, there exist several thousand parcels of real property that due to poor design, obsolescence, or neglect, have become unsafe to the extent of becoming public nuisances. Much of this property is vacant or in a state of disrepair and is causing or may cause a blight or blighting influence on the city and the neighborhoods in which the property is located. Such property constitutes a threat to the health, safety, and welfare to the citizens of the state and is an impediment to economic development within the municipality. This threat can be minimized if an incorporated municipality is authorized to repair the affected structures and is able to recover the cost of the repairs. In addition, where the municipality has undertaken the demolition of the structures and has taken a lien on the real property for the cost of the demolition, there has not been an effective method for recovering this assessment. These obligations owed to municipalities have largely been under-performing assets that could be converted to cash, providing the municipalities with much needed revenues.
Terms Used In Alabama Code 11-53B-1
- assessment: as used in this chapter shall refer to the cost of repair or demolition as provided herein. See Alabama Code 11-53B-3
- Assets: (1) The property comprising the estate of a deceased person, or (2) the property in a trust account.
- following: means next after. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
- Lien: A claim against real or personal property in satisfaction of a debt.
- property: includes both real and personal property. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
- Real property: Land, and all immovable fixtures erected on, growing on, or affixed to the land.
- real property: includes lands, tenements and hereditaments. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
- state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
