Residents say burnt out home a danger to the neighborhood

LITHONIA, Ga. — Residents say a DeKalb County home that burned down nearly five years ago has still not been torn down.

Just getting to the front door of the home is dangerous. Broken glass is everywhere and a large piece of wood is hanging over the door.

"People complain about it all the time," said neighbor Leslie McFarlane.

They say they have complained to the county about it right after it burned down. The homes around it are in a nice Lithonia neighborhood on Hodgdon Corners Drive.

When Channel 2's Craig Lucie and a photographer walked around, they spotted black mold in the garage and debris everywhere.

Weeds and trees are actually growing on what's left of the first and second floor.

Patricia Williams says one of her biggest concerns is the children that she has seen around and inside the home.

"I'm afraid something may fall on them," Williams said.

Lucie asked another neighbor what it was like for them driving by the house every day.

"It's not safe for the kids going to school in the morning because the bus stop right here," McFarlane said.

Several neighbors told Lucie they are worried about their property values.

"It's bringing down the value of the houses in here," McFarlane said.

Lucie contacted DeKalb County and a representative said the county just acquired the property. Officials said they have citations dating back to 2009 against the property owners and the home just made it on the county's demolition list.

They will have a demolition date as soon as the DeKalb Budget Committee approves it.

WSBTV