‘It’s just an eyesore.’ DeKalb County tears down another abandoned home

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Neighbors in DeKalb County are saying good riddance to another blighted property.

A demolition crew tore down an abandoned house along Simone Way on Friday morning. It’s part of the county’s ongoing efforts to clean up the county.

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The house was built back in 1973, but had long fallen into serious disrepair. A tree fell on it a few years ago and was never removed.

Norelle Taveras, who lives across the street, had to look out at the ugliness for the past five years. She said she was also worried about snakes, rodents and people snooping around the property.

“It’s just an eyesore. Lots of people stopping by, going in,” she told Channel 2′s Bryan Mims.

DeKalb County Director of Community Development Allen Mitchell says the county identified this house as real blight and went to court to do something about it.

First, the property owners have the chance to eradicate the problem.

“You have hearings. You have to find the owners. You have to be served property and all that. There’s a huge process on the front end and serve them properly,” Mitchell explained.

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As a bulldozer claws away at the old house, neighbors are relieved to see it go.

“So they see a nice lot with grass on it, and the hopes that someone might build on that property at a later date, a brand new home,” Mitchell said.

“We were hoping for it, for a while, just for reconstruction. For something to happen with it So it’s good to see some progress or something to happen with the property across the street,” Taveras said.

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