Blighted properties demolished are welcomed sight for homeowners in this Ga. neighborhood

It’s a happy day for Tucker.

“We’ve been trying to get this down now for about 14 years,” Tucker told Channel 2′s Audrey Washington.

On Wednesday, Glenn gladly watched as crews demolished this home on Stanton Street in DeKalb County. There is a lot of mud as well as some bricks scattered over there among the rubble on the site.

Neighbors told Channel 2 even though it looks like a mess, they are glad to see this home gone.

“We had vagrants, illegal dumping,” Tucker said.

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Today’s demo marked the 588th demolition in DeKalb County since 2017.

Channel 2 learned the Dekalb County Demolitions and Abatement Task Force first identifies properties in the area that are abandoned and in disarray. Then, through a court order, the task force goes in and tears downs the troubled properties.

This is all a part of a larger, five-year-long blight demolition project.

“Invest federal and local resources to make sure that we respect the neighborhoods and the people who live in our county,” DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond said.

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In April, Channel 2 showed you how Dekalb County crews took down another home in Stone Mountain that neighbors complained about for years.

As for Stanton Street in Decatur, neighbors told Washington the area is in transition, with several newly renovated homes going up and young buyers coming in.

“I’m so excited for the Stanton Street community and for what will come on this piece of land,” a neighbor said.

“Finally got some satisfaction out of it,” Tucker said.

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