City of Anniston removing blighted homes to clean up communities

ANNISTON, Ala. (WBRC) - The City of Anniston is in the process of getting rid of more than a dozen eyesores in your communities.

City leaders said it’s time to make room and opportunities to improve neighborhoods.

Tana Bryant is the City of Anniston Code Enforcement Officer. She said her job is to rid communities of blight that may affect their quality of life while also attracting people who want to invest.

“Squatters getting in them tearing out walls, trying to get what little bit of copper or whatever they may try to get out of these private property structures,” said Bryant.

The City of Anniston is using the Community Development Block Grant to get rid of abandoned vacant buildings to help clean up the city. Bryant said this also gives property owners a way to start over.

“A lot of people may not have the funding to get rid of a property that has gone beyond repair. They don’t have to qualify monetarily but the structure has to qualify,” said Bryant.

Bryant said that means getting approval from the state’s historical preservation, environmental reports, title searches, and other paperwork. Neighbor Kurt Gray said he understands the position of the city.

“For them just to take it and tear it down, I don’t think that’s a good idea. If the owners don’t take care of it, then most likely then the city have to do what they got to do,” said Gray.

Next week, the city said they’ll allow qualified contractors to bid on listed properties. Neighbors said they wish communities would look after each other more often.

“If I had the money, I would fix it back up because somebody in the neighborhood is going to get older or they’re going to need a roof over their head - no doubt about it,” said Gray.

Bryant said these abandoned homes hurt property values and they’re a safety risk for kids. She said they’re starting with 15 homes, but there will be more to come.

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