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Birmingham Sues Apple Valley Apartment Complex Over Crime

The City of Birmingham has sued an apartment complex over violent crime, including two homicides this year.

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The Office of the City Attorney is suing the owner of Monarch Ridge Apartments, formerly known as Valley Brook Apartments, due to the high amount of violent crime and other illegal activities at the property, the city said today.

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The lawsuit seeks an injunction requiring the owners of the apartment complex to take steps to reduce illegal activity at the complex. This would include requiring the owners to establish a comprehensive audio and video surveillance system at the complex, acquire license plate technology and establish a 24-hour, 7 day-a-week security presence at the complex.

The city asks that if the owners fail to prevent further illegal and violent activity that the court require the property to be sold.

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“The Defendants have continued to allow criminal, violent and life-threatening activity to occur, thus creating a public nuisance,” the city says in its lawsuit.

The city further argues:

  • Valley Brook Apartments have been the site of several incidents of murder, gun-related violence, assaults and other forms of illegal activity.
  • Birmingham police officers have responded to multiple incidents where firearms have been discharged.
  • Birmingham police officers have made multiple arrests at the apartment complex.

In spring 2020, the Office of the City Attorney created a Drug and Nuisance Abatement Team which works through the courts to hold landowners accountable for keeping their properties clean and getting rid of crime and blight associated with nuisance issues. {snip}

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