Charles NoonanPresident, Landbank University · Real Estate Developer & Instructor

CBS News Birmingham Is BOOMING! How Developers Are Turning Vacant Land Into Wealth LIVE Sept 18-19

3 Apr 2026 · 2 min

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In a CBS 42 News segment anchored by Carla Lang, reporter Sydney Spencer interviews real‑estate developer Charles Noonan of the Land Bank Team about his plan to transform vacant infill lots across Birmingham into new homes. Noonan explains that his personal connection to the city and its strong infrastructure inspired the project, and he emphasizes the need for affordable housing. He also promotes the annual Let’s Build Birmingham Expo, which teaches residents how to build homes and invest in land themselves. Community members, including residents Tiffany and Taylor Dance, voice support for the revitalization effort, noting that filling empty lots can improve neighborhood appearance and provide much‑needed affordable housing. The segment highlights the developer’s dual focus on construction and education as a way to address the city’s housing shortage.

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A real estate investor is sharing plans to help build new homes across Birmingham. Good evening and thank you for joining us for the CBS 42 News at 10. I'm Carla Lang. Sherri has the night off. This is an effort to revitalize and give new life to vacant spaces. CBS 42's Sydney Spencer joins us now live in Birmingham. Sydney, what can people expect from these plans?
Yeah, Carly, Charles Noonan with the Land Bake Team says he is building homes across Birmingham. He's also teaching people how to build homes at the Let's Build Birmingham Expo. It's vacant lots like this in Birmingham neighborhoods residents Tiffany and Taylor Dance say they would like to see revitalized.
Sometimes the vacant spots can make an area look run down, so filling in, filling it in with homes, I mean, that's a great idea.
It's a task real estate developer Charles Noonan with the Land Bank team says he's been focused on this year.
As a developer, I could have a huge role in helping bring the city back to bring some of the charm back to the city while maintaining the culture of the city as well.
Noonan says the effort to build new homes specifically in infill lots began after learning more about his family's connection to the Magic City as well as the convenience to build.
And as I began to develop in the city of Birmingham, I realized how strong and solid of an infrastructure you guys have for development.
But Noonan says it doesn't just stop there, offering people who call Birmingham home an opportunity to learn how to build homes and invest in land themselves with the annual Let's Build Birmingham Expo.
Sometimes our cities, we wait for developers to come in and build, and then we cross our fingers and hope that they're building something that's affordable. More often than not, that doesn't happen because from a pricing model for developers, it just doesn't make sense. So what I want people to learn is how easy it is to build and how easy it is to purchase land.
Some residents say this is a step in continuing growth in this city.
A lot of people need housing, affordable housing. Um, the city is being revitalized in a lot of areas where they're putting in projects where people can afford. So I think that's a great idea.
Now Noonan says over 1,000 investors are expected to attend the expo. You can find more information under this story on our CBS 42 News app. We're live in Birmingham, Sydney Spencer, CBS 42 News.