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| Abingdon: If You Own a Distressed Property, We're Calling You |
Officials with the city of Abingdon are trying to get a point across: if you own a distressed or dangerous property in town, expect to be contacted by the city.
Abingdon Mayor Steve Darmer told the city council Tuesday night that he was part of a recent tour that identified 21 properties officials are concerned about and need to be addressed. City Attorney Jack Ball is heavily involved in the process and is currently looking into some of the properties.
Ball tells WGIL the situation is something the city is taking very seriously. "The mayor has given me strict instructions to move on that," Ball said. "So, we're going to be looking at different ways that we can help the citizenry address some of their deteriorating (properties)...maybe help them so they can get their properties cleaned up, and do those kinds of things. And if we have to, we're going to address demolition concerns on those buildings, providing they are dangerous to the citizenry and cause health problems."
Ball says the problem is not widespread in Abingdon, but it's bad enough to prompt the city to take action. He says there are some buildings you can see through, have caved-in roofs, or have doors and windows wide open. That, Ball says, poses not only a danger for children who might be enticed to go in, but those types of structures can also harbor rodents---and that poses a health hazard.
In a separate development, Ball also says there could eventually be some good news related to the south Briggs property at Sanitary Road and East Street. Ball says he's been in contact with an attorney in North Carolina who represents Briggs and how the company might go about cleaning that property up, and what officials might want to do with it.
Ball wouldn't say much else about the situation other than it presents some interesting options for the city, which might be able to do something with the property. |
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| 02 17 09 by Newsroom |
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