You may notice a few less dilapidated structures in the city of Youngstown in the coming months.
The city recently received $725,000 in additional neighborhood stabilization money to help tear down blight around Youngstown. About $600,000 came from the state with another $125,000 from Mahoning County.
Since Aug. 1, the city has awarded contracts for 285 structures to be torn down. The demolition list is compromised of 1,100 vacant structures.
"It's abandoned," said Bill D'Avignon, Director of Community Development. "It's in some deplorable conditions. Doors are missing, windows are broken."
The city has spent well over $5 million demolishing over 2,000 structures in recent years, with more to come.
The State of Ohio sent neighborhood stabilization dollars to Youngstown because other communities were unable to spend it by the August 26 deadline.
The city also received an additional $125,000 in money that Mahoning County couldn't spend.
The cost involved in tearing down some of the vacant structures can be immense. However, residents that live nearby said it's a cost that's well worth it.
The empty homes are a breeding ground for crime.
"Because a lot of people will be in and out," said Andrew Blue, South Side resident. "They're stripping the houses down and stuff like that. It makes the neighborhood worse than it already is. It used to be beautiful over here, but I'm glad to see the houses coming down; that way you can keep some of the crime down."
Blue has lived on the South Side for 13 years.
The new money will allow the city to tear down three houses on his street.
"We have quite a few houses on the street that do look pretty decent," said Blue. "People keep their yards up and stuff. Then you have got a lot of them that people don't. But I'm glad to see these houses coming down because they get worse and worse as time goes on."
When it's all said and done, Youngstown will have razed over 450 structures in 2010.
