The City of East Point Continues to Demolish its 50 Worst Properties this Weekend

Vacant lots, foreclosures, and blighted properties continue to be an eyesore for neighborhoods in southwest Atlanta and throughout Atlanta.  The City of East Point continues to take a stand against these properties and delinquent owners by demolishing blighted eyesores.

East Point’s 50 Worst Properties Program is a compilation of 50 properties from each of the four Wards in the City that violate Fire Codes due to being a clear threat to human life, safety and/or health.

 “Abandoned properties often are sought by vagrants to stay warm, and can be a haven for fires or a cesspool for crimes,” says Fire Chief Rosemary R. Cloud.  “The 50 Worst Properties Program provides an avenue to help ensure that neighborhoods remain safe from fire and crime,” states the Fire Chief.

The 50 Worst Properties Task Force has scheduled its next demolition of a home located at 1316 Walker Avenue for Saturday, May 18, 2013 at 8:00 A.M.. According to the fire department, the property was taken through a detailed process before reaching this last and final stage of a Municipal Court ordered demolition.

This is the 3rd property demolition scheduled by the Task Force.  The Los Erken Apartments located on Central Avenue in East Point became the first property to be demolished in May of last year, followed by a Duplex on Lyle Avenue in October 2012.  This third demolition comes as the Task Force continues working to exhaust a 50 Worst Properties Phase II list, which was created after properties on the original list became compliant.

According to a written statement by the East Point Fire Department, "once a property is listed, it goes through a detailed process of 8 to 15 steps which includes, but is not limited to an inspection(s), locating and notifying the property owner, awaiting a response, and the issuance of a citation."  If the property owner does not respond, the property is then moved through a court process.  

The Task Force says additional demolitions can be expected.  How many blighted properties are in your neighborhood?  Do you want them demolished, or is there another idea? Tell us in the Comments Section!

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