Approximately 100 Greenville homes are on the city’s demolition list.
At the April 16 council meeting, leaders approved the Properties Committee recommendation to add 19 to the demolition list and 24 additional properties were determined to be a menace to public health and safety.
At the committee meeting April 3, council members AI Brock and Lois Hawkins were present, along with Carlon Williams, Planning/Zoning Director, and D'Andre Williams, Housing Inspector.
“There are 86 properties on list besides the ones you just added today,” Williams said. “We are consistently prioritizing those that have most hazardous conditions, but we are limited to what we can do because of funding.”
Williams said approximately 50 to 100 structures are demolished each year at a significant expense to the city.
“When we look at the cost at assessing, these people don’t even want this property and we are required to tear down the properties no one wants,” Williams said. “The amount of money we have to spend to get them torn down – it’s a significant cost.”
Williams told the council this set of properties is the third batch to be added in this fiscal year’s budget.
“Most of the time we add just as many properties to the list,” he said. “So this is comparable.”
Williams said it cost several hundred dollars per home demolished, depending on the size of the structure.
A public hearing was held to determine whether the following structures are in such a state of dilapidation and uncleanness as to constitute a menace to public health and safety:
1026 W. O'Hea Street
354 Cleveland Street
457 Cleveland Street
413 Persimmon Street
460 Railroad Avenue
635-701 Martin Street
508 S. Delta Street
2701 E. Alexander Street
1207 Oak Lane Drive
1271 Oak Lane Drive
1041 Goethal Street
729 S. Theobald Street
632 Roach Street
516 W. Percy Street
727 Sampson Street
624 Lacey Street
955 Legion Drive
736 Pickett Street
979 N. Dyer Circle
637 Walthall Street
1208 Ridge Avenue
1219 Daniels Street
608 S. Hinds Street
308 Central Street
1041 Goethal Street
The committee made recommendations to the city council to adopt resolutions determining the 24 structures are in such a state of uncleanness as to constitute a menace to public health and safety.
Housing Inspector Williams stated property at 1041 Goethal Street sustained fire damage to the carport area.
“The property owner has secured and maintained the property; however, the Planning Department have received several complaints regarding the structure,” Williams said, according to minutes from the committee meeting.
Booker Clay, property owner, stated the fire was contained to the carport area and the structure is in livable condition.
Williams made recommendations on measures to be taken to make the structure less of an eyesore in the community.
On motion by Brock, seconded by Hawkins with unanimous vote, the committee recommended to full council granting property owner 90 days to make substantial progress to structure.
The council also approved committee recommendation to assess the following 19 properties with demolition and lot cleaning costs:
522 Billija Street
612 W. Gloster Street
617 W. Gloster Street
1228 Holmes Street
1024 Nelson Street
732 Sampson Road
420 S. Cornell Street
458 Hughes Street
460 Hughes Street
1015 Patton Drive
1213 W. Cotton Drive
518 Cedar Street
331 N. Broadway Street
319 N. Broadway Street
402 S. 7th Street
328 S. 8th Street
1012 Williams Street
1046 Goodrich Street
453 N. Harvey Street
Property located at 308 Central Street was discussed and Williams requested considering the status of the vacant structure as an emergency.
Since the property is owned by the State of Mississippi,a land patent for the property from the State of Mississippi also being sought.
The council approved the committee recommendation declaring the structure at 308 Central Street as being in such a state of dilapidation as to constitute a menace to public health and safety that it rises to the classification as an emergency.
The committee proposal to sell city-owned properties at 541 and 539 Glad Street to Gwendolyn Brisby Lidge in the amount of $200 each plus $12.00 filing fee, was approved by the city council.
