That isn't true. I grew up there and most of the city is residential neighborhoods surrounding a downtown that has been getting renovated and updated for the past twenty years or so. In terms of particularly photogenic places there are:

* Vulcan

* The Kirklin Clinic (designed by IM Pei, his first design I believe)

* The County Courthouse

* 16th Street Baptist Church

* Various venues along Birmingham's freedom trail

* All of the pioneer churches have pretty unique architecture.

* Railroad Park

* Five Points South

Even Sloss Furnace is a pretty photogenic ruin. Also Woodlawn, where I grew up, has seen a lot of love. I remember when it smelled like piss on 1st avenue but now it just smells like outside. And tbh I've yet to see a biker gang with an assless chaps dress code so I'm not quite sure what you saw as apocalyptic.