Monarch Ridge Apartments

Valley Brook Apartments is a 240-unit apartment complex in 18 buildings on Gallant Drive and Gallant Place, off of Westchester Drive near Center Point Parkway in Birmingham's Apple Valley neighborhood. It was constructed in 1972 and primarily serves tenants with Section 8 vouchers for affordable housing.

In October 2006 the complex was targeted by the Birmingham Police Department's "Operation Taking It to the Streets" sweep, netting numerous arrests and citations. Between 2007 and 2016 the complex has been the scene of at least seven homicides. In October 2014 the complex was locked down for another Police sweep, dubbed "Operation Blue Storm", which netted 15 arrests and broke up a widespread scheme to bypass Alabama Power Company electrical meters.

The complex was purchased for $24.8 million in 2017 by Steele Properties of Denver, Colorado. The owners plan to spend more than $11 million on renovations and upgrades to the property.

References

• Robinson, Carol (October 29, 2014) "Operation Blue Storm: Police flood northeast Birmingham apartment complex to battle crime." The Birmingham News
• Godwin, Brent (March 9, 2017) "Birmingham area apartment complex bought for $24M." Birmingham Business Journal