Ala. Code § 11-74-1 Applicability.
11-74-1. Applicability.
This chapter shall apply only to a Class 2 municipality.
(Act 2021-193, §1.)
Africatown Redevelopment Corporation.
Ala. Code tit. 11, tit. 2, ch. 74
in effectAla. Code § 11-74-2 Definitions.
11-74-2. Definitions.
For purposes of this chapter, “Africatown Historic District” means all portions of that area designated as the Africatown Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places lying within the corporate limits of a Class 2 municipality.
(Act 2021-193, §2.)
Ala. Code § 11-74-3 Corporation Created; Purpose; Composition; Board of Directors; Certificate of Incorporation; Liability; By-Laws.
11-74-3. Corporation Created; Purpose; Composition; Board of Directors; Certificate of Incorporation; Liability; By-Laws.
(a) There is created the Africatown Redevelopment Corporation.
(b) The purpose of the corporation shall be the revitalization of housing, preservation of history, and attraction and development of commerce in the area known as the Africatown Historic District.
(c) All corporate powers of the corporation shall be exercised by or under authority of, and all the business and affairs of the corporation shall be managed under, a board of directors, which shall consist of the following:
(1) Two appointees by the city council member representing the district that, on the date of appointment, includes a majority of the territory within the Africatown Historic District. One appointee shall be an expert in real estate development, and the other appointee shall be an expert in historic preservation.
(2) Two appointees by the mayor of the Class 2 municipality. One appointee shall be an expert in city planning and neighborhood revitalization, and the other appointee shall be an expert in banking and finance.
(3) One appointee by the county commissioner representing the district that, on the date of appointment, includes a majority of the territory within the Africatown Historic District. The appointee shall be an expert in economic development.
(4) One appointee by the member of the Alabama House of Representatives representing the district that, on the date of appointment, includes a majority of the territory within the Africatown Historic District.
(5) One appointee by the member of the Alabama Senate representing the district that, on the date of appointment, includes a majority of the territory within the Africatown Historic District.
(6) One resident of the Africatown Historic District, appointed by The Clotilda Descendants’ Association.
(7) One resident of the Africatown Historic District, appointed by the Africatown Heritage Preservation Foundation.
(d)(1) The appointing authorities shall make their initial appointments by May 12, 2021.
(2) The appointing authorities shall ensure that their appointments reflect the racial, gender, geographic, and economic diversity of the Africatown Historic District.
(e)(1)a. Except as provided in subdivision (2), each member of the board of directors shall serve for a term of two years and shall serve until a successor is appointed.
b. In the event of any vacancy, a successor shall be appointed in the same manner as the seat was previously filled, and the appointee shall serve for the remainder of the term for the seat that was vacated.
(2)a. Each of the following members of the board of directors appointed prior to the first meeting of the board shall serve for an initial term of two years:
1. The member appointed by the mayor of the Class 2 municipality who is an expert in city planning and neighborhood revitalization.
2. The member appointed by the city council member who is an expert in historic preservation.
3. The member appointed by the county commissioner who is an expert in economic development.
4. The member appointed by The Clotilda Descendants’ Association.
5. The member appointed by the member of the Alabama Senate.
b. Each of the following members of the board of directors appointed prior to the first meeting of the board shall serve for an initial term of one year:
1. The member appointed by the mayor of the Class 2 municipality who is an expert in banking and finance.
2. The member appointed by the city council member who is an expert in real estate development.
3. The member appointed by the Africatown Heritage Preservation Foundation.
4. The member appointed by the member of the Alabama House of Representatives.
(f)(1) The board of directors shall have its first meeting at a time and place designated by the member of the Alabama House of Representatives representing the district that includes the Africatown Historic District on April 12, 2021.
(2) At the first meeting, the board shall elect a chair and vice-chair. Thereafter, a new chair and vice-chair shall be elected at the first meeting of each calendar year.
(g) No later than three days after the first meeting of the board, the board shall act as incorporators of the corporation by signing the certificate of incorporation and delivering the same to the Secretary of State for filing. The certificate of incorporation shall state all of the following:
(1) The names of the individuals forming the corporation, and that each of them is a resident of the municipality.
(2) The name of the corporation, which shall be the “Africatown Redevelopment Corporation.”
(3) The period for the duration of the corporation. If the duration is to be perpetual, that fact shall be stated.
(4) The name of the municipality.
(5) The location of the principal office of the corporation, which shall be within the Africatown Historic District.
(6) That the corporation is organized pursuant to this chapter.
(7) Any other matters relating to the corporation that the incorporators may choose to insert and that are not inconsistent with this chapter or the laws of the state.
(h) Upon filing of the certificate of incorporation, the corporate existence shall begin.
(i) Members of the board of directors shall be immune from civil liability for actions taken in the conduct of their duties, and shall not be liable for the obligations of the corporation.
(j) The corporation may adopt, amend, or repeal bylaws to govern the operations of the corporation. The bylaws shall be consistent with this chapter and the laws of the state.
(Act 2021-193, §3.)
Ala. Code § 11-74-4 Powers of Corporation.
11-74-4. Powers of Corporation.
The corporation may do the following, with or without public hearing, within the Africatown area:
(1) Acquire by purchase, rent, lease agreement, or otherwise, necessary facilities and provide those facilities with necessary equipment, furnishings, landscaping, and related facilities, including parking areas and ramps, roadways, sewers, curbs, and gutters.
(2) Finance, by loan, grant, lease, or otherwise, construct, erect, assemble, purchase, acquire, own, repair, remodel, renovate, rehabilitate, modify, maintain, extend, improve, install, sell, equip, expand, add to, operate, or manage property, and pay the cost of any such project from the proceeds of bonds, or any other funds of the corporation, or from any contributions or loans by persons, corporations, partnerships, limited or general, or other entities, all of which the corporation may receive and accept and use.
(3) Execute and deliver mortgages and deeds of trust and trust indentures, or either.
(4) Enter into contracts and cooperative agreements with and, directly or indirectly, borrow money or accept grants from the local, state, and federal governments, agencies of the governments, private individuals, corporations, associations, and other organizations as the corporation may deem necessary or convenient to carry out the purposes of this chapter.
(5) Borrow money and issue bonds in evidence thereof, as necessary to perform its duties under this chapter.
(6) Mortgage and pledge any or all of its property or any part or parts thereof, as security for the payment of the principal of and interest on any bonds so issued and any agreements made in connection therewith, whether then owned or thereafter acquired, and to pledge the revenues and receipts therefrom or from any thereof.
(7) Accept public or private gifts, grants, and donations.
(8) Acquire property by purchase, lease, or gift.
(9) Sell, convey, transfer, lease, or donate any property, franchise, grant, easement, license, or lease or interest therein which it may own and transfer, assign, sell, convey, or donate any right, title, or interest which it may have in any lease, contract, agreement, license, or property.
(10) Employ personnel as may be necessary or convenient to accomplish the purposes of this chapter. The personnel employed by the corporation shall serve at the pleasure of the board of directors. The board of directors shall fix the compensation of the personnel, and the compensation shall be paid from any funds of the corporation. The board of directors shall designate the duties of the personnel.
(11) Perform other acts necessary or incidental to the accomplishment of the purposes of this chapter, and other acts, including, but not limited to, the employment of legal and accounting assistance, whether or not the acts are specifically authorized by this chapter, and provided that the acts are not otherwise prohibited by law.
(Act 2021-193, §4.)
Ala. Code § 11-74-5 Agreements and Obligations; Exemptions from Taxation and Competitive Bid Requirements.
11-74-5. Agreements and Obligations; Exemptions from Taxation and Competitive Bid Requirements.
(a) The state or any political subdivision shall not in any event be liable for the payment of the principal of or interest on any bonds of the corporation or for the performance of any pledge, mortgage, obligation, or agreement of any kind whatsoever which may be undertaken by the corporation, and none of the bonds of the corporation or any of its agreements or obligations shall be construed to constitute an indebtedness of the state or any political subdivision within the meaning of any constitutional or statutory provision whatsoever.
(b) The corporation and the property and income of the corporation, whether used by it or leased to others; all bonds issued by the corporation, whether used by it or leased to others; all bonds issued by the corporation; the income from those bonds or from any other sources; the interest and other profits from such bonds enuring to and received by the holders thereof; conveyances by and to the corporation; and leases, mortgages, and deeds of trust by and to the corporation shall be exempt from all taxation in the state.
(c) The corporation shall be exempt from all laws of the state requiring competitive bids for contracts to be entered into by municipalities or public corporations.
(Act 2021-193, §5.)
Source: Alabama Legislature (alison.legislature.state.al.us)URL: https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/code-of-alabamaFetched: 10/20/2026