If City Council has its way, some owners will soon be paying the city thousands of dollars for the demolition of their property eyesores, 10TV's Angela An reported on Monday.
The city wants to tear down vacant homes that can be a haven for criminals. City Council was expected to introduce legislation Monday that would charge 15 property owners who have failed to pay for demolition costs, 10TV's Angela An reported.
For more than seven years, Barbara Brandon has lived on one side of a duplex located on North Champion Avenue on the city's east side. The other half of the duplex is a complete eyesore.
"We have to keep all the grass and stuff cut so we make it look presentable," Brandon said.
The other half of the building has peeling paint, unstable columns and broken windows. Brandon said the owner passed away several years ago, and family members failed to keep up with the property, An reported.
"The city has told us if we weren't here they'd tear the whole place down," Brandon said.
The city has already demolished a garage that once stood behind the duplex, and now plans to assess the owner more than $2,000 for the outstanding bill.
The plan is the same for the owner of a home on Miami Avenue, also located on the city's east side. In that property's case, the city will seek $17,000 for a home that was demolished, An reported.
Property owner Rick Davis is being assessed for a garage the city determined to be dangerous. He acknowledged that the structure was not in pristine shape.
"There were some shootings that took place a couple weeks ago," Davis said. "That's how the windows got shot out."
Davis said he understood the city's position, so he agreed to have his garage torn down.
He'll owe about $7,000 for the demolition, An reported.
Watch 10TV News and refresh 10TV.com for additional information.
