Two long-abandoned restaurant buildings near Daphne's city entrance are finally headed for the wrecking ball. The Daphne City Council has approved demolition of the former Taco Bell at 29017 U.S. 98, and granted an extension allowing demolition work at the old Quincy's site next door at 29049 U.S. 98 to be completed by Dec. 31.
The vote clears the way for both derelict buildings, sitting along a highly visible stretch of U.S. 98 near Interstate 10, to come down together. According to Gulf Coast Media, the Taco Bell property has drawn ongoing complaints as an attractive nuisance and abandoned building, and the structure itself has been deemed dangerous. The building has not had a business license since 2019, and Daphne Public Works Director Bobby Purvis said weeds have grown around it, its windows are boarded up, and its roof is collapsing.
The neighboring Quincy's building has fared no better. The same report notes it has been the subject of graffiti and homeless encampments, and the two ordinances approved by council allow both buildings to be torn down at the same time. What could eventually replace either property remains uncertain, per Gulf Coast Media's reporting.
Mayor Says Delay Was Strategic, Not Stalling
Daphne Mayor Robin LeJeune has described the pair of buildings as the entrance to the city, according to reporting from NBC 15. LeJeune said the city intentionally held off on the Quincy's demolition while working through the Taco Bell process, so a contractor could potentially take down both buildings at once and save on mobilization costs.
LeJeune said the city hopes demolition of the two U.S. 98 buildings could begin within the next month or so, depending on the council's action. The station's report also notes that blight isn't limited to the two commercial buildings — some homes in Daphne have deteriorated over the years as well, including properties damaged during hurricanes and left unrepaired. City leaders are discussing possible business incentives and development tools as part of a broader push to revitalize the area, and the mayor said the city has demolished two properties itself so far.
Months of Warnings Before the Vote
The push to remove the Taco Bell building didn't happen overnight. Daphne's building inspection division brought a nuisance-abatement matter involving the 29049 U.S. 98 property before the council during a meeting in July, according to Citizen Portal. Months earlier, in April, the council had already authorized sending an initial 20-day abatement letter for the dangerous building at that same address, with the motion carrying unanimously.
Daphne overhauled its demolition ordinance in 2024, giving officials more options for addressing unsafe buildings while still allowing property owners time to repair issues or appeal demolition actions before the city moves forward. Under a related state provision, Code of Alabama Section 45-3-171.20, an interested party may file a written request for a hearing within the time specified in a notice, but no more than 30 days from when the notice is given, according to the Alabama Legislature. City officials have said the overall process, from inspection to final action, can take months, and that the city pays for demolition upfront before assessing the cost against the property itself.
What Remains Unresolved
U.S. 98 near the two properties carries more than 42,000 vehicles daily, according to Alabama Department of Transportation traffic counts cited in the seed reporting, underscoring how visible the blighted buildings have become along one of Daphne's busiest corridors. Despite the council's votes, the city has not determined a timetable or cost estimate for demolishing the two properties, and what will ultimately replace them remains an open question that officials have not answered.
