The city of Birmingham Zoning Board of Adjustment voted Thursday afternoon to allow two zoning variances to the developer of a new CVS drugstore on the corner of 11th Avenue and 14th Street on Birmingham's Southside. The vote opens the door for the destruction of three apartment complexes mostly rented by senior citizens and UAB students.

Several people spoke out against the proposal during the hearing. "If the city continues to allow businesses to come into the neighborhood, we won't have a neighborhood left...There are at least 60 to 70 apartments there and people have been living there for decades," says Five Pts. South neighborhood president Gary Bostany.

Many living in these complexes are UAB international students. They say if these complexes go away, they don't know what they'll do or where they'll go.  "if I were to move to the current price of Birmingham apartments, I would be living pay check to pay check,"  says UAB grad student Ingrid Menegazzo.  She told the board she's lived on campus before and they can't come close to comparing with these complexes.  "It's quiet. For someone with a challenging major quiet is very important for studying."

The fight over the apartments isn't over yet. First, the sale of the properties haven't been completed. And even if and when that happens the ruling must go before the city council before it can go into effect.  The residents of the three complexes don't have to start looking for a new place just yet. By law, the developer must wait until everyone's leases expire.  Before they can move forward with the demolition and construction.