11 properties set for demolition

FLORENCE -- Red tape carrying the words "Danger: Do Not Enter" surrounds a west Florence house, with missing doors, moss growing on the porch, plywood boarding up parts of the house and toilet shards in the backyard.

"It used to be a nice house," said Stephen Wilson, who lives near the abandoned home.

The house at 315 W. Mobile St. threatens the neighborhood, with its exposed nails and broken windows. Stacks of bricks seem to hold up the structure.

"It needs to be torn down," said neighbor Kenneth Clemons.

Wish granted.

City council members have passed a resolution declaring 11 properties as public nuisances and ordered their demolition, including the West Mobile home.

Eight of the 11 properties are in west Florence, said Councilman Sam Pendleton, who represents the district.

"Most of the houses are not feasible to repair; they've gone beyond the point of repair," said Florence building official Gary Williamson.

For many residents, the overgrown weeds, smashed windows and sagging structures don't just create an eyesore. They also mean a loss of surrounding property values.

Billy Armstead, who lives near a house at 705 Veterans Drive, which is on the to-be-demolished list, said he had his property appraised at $60,000 in 2002. Last Friday, the city sent an appraisal sheet from the Lauderdale County Board of Equalization that now lists the value of his property at $38,000.

"When I was a child, that house next door used to be a showplace," Armstead said. "But nobody has occupied the house for five or six years. The floors are gone inside and there's asbestos all over the roof.

"I can't have a pool in the backyard for my two girls because of the overgrowth and the rodents and snakes. I've seen people in and out of that abandoned house."

At least one property on the demolition list holds hope. Though Larry McGee's house at 474 N.Cedar St. made the list, he negotiated with city officials to get his home up to standard. If not, it will be torn down.

McGee said he didn't have money to repair the house after a roof leak caused internal damage, which he said he wasn't made aware of at the time. When the house was abandoned, he kept the grass cut.

"I've been watching it fall down for 12 years," said Dan Hester, who lives nearby. "I was just thrilled they were working on the house."

McGee started his home improvement project three weeks ago and so far walls, floors and the roof have been replaced.

Of the pending nuisance notification, "They do that to get you off your hiney and get you busy," McGee said,

For the other properties, the next step is for the street department to remove utilities and then the city will demolish the buildings. The city will chart the cost and place a lien against the property until the demolition costs are paid, according to Williamson.

On Tuesday's council agenda, five west Florence properties that were demolished in August 2006 were listed only with the liens, ranging from nearly $1,900 to $3,000.

The cost of paying the demolition expenses is added to the price of the property should the owner try to sell. The additional cost can make the property less attractive to buy, Williamson said.

City officials say the 11 placed on the list this week will not solve the problem. There are others already being evaluated.

Another abandoned house on Irvine Street is a candidate to make the next list. Vines choke the crumbling cement stairs that lead to an exhausted wooden porch.

"There's a whole lot of stuff that needs to be done in this neighborhood," said Anthony Jones, who lives near the house.

Staff Writer Trevor Stokes can be reached at 740-5728 or trevor.stokes@timesdaily.com.

Kim Wallace also contributed to this report.