Rep. Ralph Long Says that the City is Taking Too Long to Demolish Eyesores
Too many abandoned buildings are still standing in Southwest Atlanta.
Last week CBS Atlanta reported that the City of Atlanta has slowed down its progress of tearing down long abandoned buildings in Southwest Atlanta.
Rep. Ralph Long said, "the people of this community, the citizens in Southwest Atlanta with a zip code 30311, deserve better than this."
According to CBS' reporting the city claimed they would be tearing down 200 buildings this year, but the total at this point stands far below that number.
CBS Atlanta News questioned Atlanta Code Enforcement spokesperson Carlos Campos on Friday, and he said they are moving through the process as quickly as possible.
Residents in Southwest Atlanta have for months complained about abandoned buildings during local NPU meetings. They are eyesores, they are unsafe, and they tend to breed drugs and drug users. Many people blame many of the neighborhood fires on drug users that squat in some of these abandoned buildings, and no resident wants to continue to live next to a dangerous eyesore.
What should be done with these buildings? According to the authorities there are legal matters that slow down the process of tearing them down, and also it leaves the question of what should go in place of the building.
Cascade Patch is always eager to here what our readers think. What are your suggestions about this problem?
benhoward
7:50 am on Monday, July 9, 2012
Continuing concerns will more-than-likely be raised at the upcoming NPU-R meeting Wednesday at 7 pm at the Andrew and Walter Young Family YMCA – 2220 Campbellton RD.
Ben Howard,
Member – NPU-R Executive Committee
30311
Michael Adams
11:13 am on Monday, July 9, 2012
Its good to see Ralph being vocal about something many have talked about for years. Southwest Atlanta used to be a very nice and sought out area of the city, but over the years poor city planning, the rise of suburbs east and south of the city has caused the more vocal residents to flee, and leave urban decay to spread like wildfire. I remember growing up when Campbelton Rd. had Red Lobster, Steak and Ale, and a variety of business that a community needs to sustain itself, now many of the residents ( until the recent building of Camp creek Marketplace) had to leave their neighborhoods to enjoy a good evening of dining. Property values have tanked as a result of beauty supply, and liquor store heaven replacing mom and pop businesses and major chains, and Greenbriar Mall has fallen victim of tennis shoes, t- shirts and jeans. it would be a dream come true to see my neighborhood restored to its former glory.
Marvin
6:09 pm on Monday, July 9, 2012
...and do we really need a Family Dollar in the Cascade Road - Benjamin-Mayes vicinity ?