They're taking matters into their own hands in Fultondale to clean-up from last year's tornadoes. The city has given the green light to demolish homes that were simply abandoned after April 27th.
The three homes the city voted to demolish are on 4th and 5th Avenues. John Elsberry lives on 4th Avenue and couldn't be more thrilled with what the city is doing. Elsberry has lived on 4th Avenue all his life. His family has owned the home since 1926. He grew up here, raised his daughter here, and prior to April 27th this community was full of life. "It's been a rough road and our area wasn't hit like Pleasant Grove or Tuscaloosa, but it tore it up pretty bad," said Elsberry.
It's been nearly a year and still the memory of that day is far from gone. "Everything around here reminds me, every morning when I get up and come out the door," said Elsberry. "It's a lot different up here. This neighborhood used to be full of beautiful red oak, now there's none left."
Also a constant reminder is the homes left abandoned. Now a year later the city is stepping in remove the problem. And while John Elsberry is glad to see these houses go, his daughter Sabrina isn't. "I'd prefer the home owners come fix up the houses instead of them just tearing them down, since some of these houses have been here for generations. A lot of family history in this neighborhood," said Sabrina Elsberry.
John Elsberry agrees there's a lot of history, but he also wants to see this neighborhood back to it was before the storm. "I like the fact they are going to tear them down because nobody has been living in them. They are messed up and they aren't doing anything with them," said John Elsberry.
Elsberry says he believes the homes were in foreclosure. The city will place liens on the property to recoup the costs of demolition.
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Source: WBRC video
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