In the past two weeks, crews demolished nine more blighted houses from our neighborhoods. Since April 2021, we have removed almost 550 dilapidated and dangerous houses, structures, and unites from our neighborhoods in effort to make them safer and stronger.
“Blighted houses that are vacant, that are burned nearly to the ground, that are falling in on themselves create an unsafe environment for the children and families that live near them, and they are a drag on our entire community,” says Mayor Lester Miller. “These structures can attract criminal activity, are physically dangerous to people, and can be a public health concern due to rodents and other creatures.”
One of Mayor Miller’s early actions (based on community feedback) was to be more proactive with removing blight from neighborhoods, especially since there were blighted structures that had sat vacant and deteriorating for nearly a decade. So, he launched the #BlightFight in April 2021, bringing together multiple agencies, departments, and companies to remove the dangerous structures from neighborhoods more quickly.
The #BlightFight is a partnership of multiple departments and agencies, including Code Enforcement, the Attorney’s Office, Public Works, Facilities Management, Macon Water Authority, Terracon, Southern Equipment, Casteel Construction, The Waste Basket, SACAL, M&M Environmental, J Waste & Demolition, Analytical & Environmental Services, Georgia Power, and Atlanta Gas Light.
The Code Enforcement Department is working hard every day to get more blighted structures identified and in the process for demolition. If you would like to report a blighted house in your neighborhood, click here or call 478-803-0470.