Abandoned house that's stood for 15 years could finally be demolished

ATLANTA — Neighbors say they want the city of Atlanta to do something about a blighted house they say is a haven for squatters and a magnet for crime.

Channel 2's Carl Willis spoke to residents who say they are fed up with the constant vandalism and dumping but the city says there is progress happening.

Eric Saxon has the misfortune of living right next door to the dilapidated property in southwest Atlanta.

"It's become a refuge for vermin, homeless, and everybody else who would take a chance to go into it," he said.

With the exception of vagrants, the home on Stafford Street has been unoccupied for at least 15 years. About 3 years ago, a tree collapsed on the roof leaving the structure open to the elements.

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"When you see a space like that, that's abandoned that no one cares about, you know what's going to happen," Saxon said.

Willis reached out to the city of Atlanta for answers on why this has sat stagnant for years.

The chief code enforcement officer says the home is moving along through the process. She says within days a bid should be awarded to a contractor to demolish it.

Still - that could take 60 to 90 days from now.

Atlanta police tell us their code enforcement process is actually up 13-percent in inspections; 89-percent in pro-active inspections this year.

But residents like Saxon, who have waited years, say that progress is hard to feel when you're this close to blight.

"Let's get rid of the overgrowth. Maybe that can be expedited," Saxon said.

Cox Media Group