Author: Nikita Mudium
The Birmingham City Council has approved an 8-week delay to the hearing for USA Economy Lodge’s license revocation to assess the benefits of the hotel’s new improvement plan.
The USA Economy Lodge on Crestwood Blvd has been the center of intense debate between crime and the housing crisis.
“There is inequality in what is happening here if the city continues to allow this property to operate,” said Councilor Hunter Williams of District 2, and chair of the Public Safety Committee. “It is not fair for this city to allow people to completely disregard their responsibilities as property owners and as owners of a business license; that causes detriment, not only to the adjacent neighborhood, but also where our kids are small children in middle school or going to school.”
Over the past six months, the lodge has been the site of 151 emergency calls to the Birmingham Police Department regarding overdoses, drug dealing, loitering, gun possession, and homicide. Nearby residents worry for their safety, their property and their children with Putnam Middle School about 1000 feet away.
The owners of USA Economy Lodge have announced an already-underway improvement plan with intent to convert the building into an affordable housing redevelopment. The current housing crisis in Birmingham is grave; rates of homelessness are increasing every day due to a lack of low-income housing.
Despite the lodge only having a limited-stay license from the city, tenants who can afford the price of staying in the lodge, but nothing more, have been accommodated for extended stays, according to Councilor Williams.
“We don’t treat people this way,” said Councilor Steven Hoyt of District 8. “I think this city has a reputation for meeting people’s needs in times of difficulty. We are in the middle of a pandemic, which means that housing is limited and a lot of folks have to resort to staying in places like this.”
Although the redevelopment plans are not solid, evidence and resident testimony confirmed that efforts are being made to secure the safety of the establishment and prevent crime. Lighting and 24/7 security have been installed, and building restoration, parking passes, visitor restrictions and a separate courtesy line for none[SC(4] mergency calls have also been set up, according to USA Economy Lodge residents.
The Council passed the motion to wait and determine if the proposed improvement plan by USA Economy Lodge will be effective.
For the next two months, the owners will testify before the Public Safety Committee every other week regarding updates to off-duty law enforcement, cameras and criminal activity. At the end of these two months, the Birmingham City Council will approve or disapprove the revocation of USA Economy Lodge’s license to operate.
In other business news, the council also:
