Birmingham — The city of Birmingham has filed a lawsuit in Oakland Circuit Court to block the sale of The Community House after its nonprofit operator announced plans to cease in-house operations in 2026.

The Community House Association announced Nov. 3 that operations in its 1930 building at 380 Bates St. will not be required as the association transitions into the Birmingham Area Community Foundation, which will provide scholarships for students and support for smaller area nonprofits. The association said in the announcement that the new owners of the building are "yet to be determined" but that current operations would cease July 1, 2026.

In response, the city filed a lawsuit on Nov. 25 "to enforce deed restrictions" that it alleges require the building "to be held exclusively as a

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