East Point Begins Demolition of the 50 Worst Vacant Properties

The City of East Point moves forward today with its 50 Worst Properties Task Force by demolishing the very first property on its list. 

The 1st scheduled property demolition is set for Saturday, May 19, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. at the Los Erken Apartments located at 1444, 1446 and 1452 Central Avenue in East Point. The Apartments were taken through a detailed process before reaching this last and final stage of a Municipal Court ordered demolition.

East Point’s 50 Worst Properties Program is a compilation of 50 properties from that violate Fire Codes due to being a clear threat to human life, safety and/or health.

“Abandoned properties are often sought by vagrants to stay warm. This can present problems with fires being set during winter,” said the Fire Chief.

According to an East Point press release, Mayor Earnestine Pittman sees the scheduled demolition as a major milestone in the City’s road to economic recovery. “East Point has not been totally spared from the nation’s housing slump. Our program is an aggressive stand to save communities from properties defacing them, and consequently causing their values to plummet,” expressed Mayor Pittman. “The ultimate goal is to make East Point a safer place to live and work,” stated the Mayor.

There are at least 15 steps before the city can demolish a property.  If the property owner does not respond, then the process heads to the courts and demolition is next.