Local

Neighbors: Collapsed home is a public safety hazard

ATLANTA, Ga. — Residents in southwest Atlanta say a dilapidated home went from an eyesore to a public safety hazard.

Channel 2's Kerry Kavanaugh spoke to neighbors in the southwest Atlanta community where residents say it's taking too long to fix the problem.

"There's so much debris that has been dumped. There's broken glass, there's empty alcohol bottles," said Jeanna Bailey, resident of the Capitol View Manor community.

Residents say that's only the beginning of the problems surrounding the dilapidated home on University Avenue.

"This is the entrance to our neighborhood. Every day when people come home from work, this is what they have to see," said Michael Perkins of the Capitol View Neighborhood Association.

"An eyesore like this is extremely frustrating to deal with," Bailey said.

Last month it went from bad to worse when the structure completely collapsed.

When Channel 2 Action News visited the property Tuesday, residents needed to call the fire department to tend to a smoldering trash fire.

For more than a year several neighborhood associations have banded together trying to get someone to clean it up.

"Pittsburgh, Adair Park, Capitol View Manor and Sylvan Hills. And we're all caring active residents," Bailey said. "We don't understand why it's been so difficult to reach the landowner and property owner."

Channel 2 Action News was not able to reach the landowner Tuesday, but did reach Atlanta City Council. A representative sent a memo from councilmember Joyce Sheperd saying in part:

"The owner's demolition permit has expired. Therefore, I am pleased that after months of working closely and diligently with several departments of the city of Atlanta, the city of Atlanta can now proceed with the demolition."

"Something like this could sit here for months and months and months and neighborhood associations calling and saying it's a problem," said Perkins.

Residents say this property sits just 150 feet from a new section of the beltline. They say they want the entrance to their neighborhood to reflect the people who live in it.

The city has scheduled a demolition on the home. City officials it could happen as early as Friday or right after the new year. But residents say it took years to get to this point and they can't understand why.