The Birmingham City Council on Tuesday voted to transfer ownership of a property to the nonprofit Offender Alumni Association (OAA) so the group can make more than $150,000 in renovations to the building and use it as a community center and office.

According to the association’s website, OAA’s “mission is to create a network of justice-impacted individuals who inspire each other to reduce crime, develop healthy relationships within their community and provide opportunities for economic, social, and civic empowerment.”

The 4,600-square-foot property sits at 1200 Tuscaloosa Ave. and formerly housed the Jefferson County Committee for Economic Opportunity. The city took ownership of the site in 2016, according to county tax records.

Councilor Crystal Smitherman, whose district includes the property, said she has seen how the association has engaged with the community and fostered positive relationships within neighborhoods.

“I’m really excited to have this organization in District 6 and on the west side of town,” Smitherman said. “We know how important mentorship is when it comes to reducing crime in our neighborhoods. It’s a long-term approach but we need to establish this kind of foundation for our young people to grow and be successful.”

Efforts to reach OAA officials were not immediately successful Tuesday afternoon.

The city transferred the property title to OAA at a use value of $10. As part of the agreement, OAA will undertake a project to reduce any future blighted conditions of the property, including the restoration of the roof, repairing the electrical system, replacing moldy carpet and restoring the flooring.

OAA’s outreach programs include support forums where former offenders connect, share their experiences and help each other navigate the transition back into society. The group is also a provider for the Hospital Violence Intervention Program, in which patients who have survived gunshot injuries that were not self-inflicted engage with violence intervention specialists while still in the hospital. Specialists coordinate with the outpatient clinical team for follow-up once the patient is discharged.

According to a release from UAB, where the HVIP pilot program started in Birmingham, OAA received a $1.1 million grant in 2022 awarded through the Jefferson County Department of Health Public Health Advised Fund at the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham. The city of Birmingham also committed $2.1 million for years two and three of the program.

HVIP is part of a broader effort by city officials to reduce violent crime in Birmingham. The Magic City saw its deadliest year on record in 2024. Other recent measures include a $16 million police recruitment and retention program and the establishment of the Birmingham Crime Commission.

In other business, the council:

• Approved a resolution providing up to $10,000 in District 8 discretionary funds to the nonprofit Rising-West Princeton Corp. to renovate the kitchen and generally maintain the Rising-West Princeton Community Center, which will offer a space for monthly neighborhood meetings and community-held events for one year.
• Approved a resolution to continue for one year a joint funding agreement with the U.S. Geological Survey, at a cost to the city of $95,240, under which USGS assists with operating and maintaining 15 stream-flow gauging stations in all five Birmingham watersheds. The stations continuously monitor water temperature and specific conductance, basically flow rates. Changes in those measurements could indicate water-quality problems and alert the city to investigate, officials say. USGS will contribute $41,710 to services performed during the agreement period.