Saturday morning the Norwood Neighborhood gathered to watch an eyesore finally come down.
Mayor Greg Ballard and the Indianapolis Department of Public Works kicked off the new Abandoned Structures Initiative by demolishing a home on Earhart Street.
"These structurally unsafe buildings really are hazards to the residents, the businesses and the neighborhoods, and we don't want that," Ballard said.
Yvonne Smith watched as heavy machines tore apart the house she says has been vacant for more than two years. Smith split the duty of mowing the lawn with the Penick Messiah Church on the other side of the empty house.
Now, the church plans to buy the lot from the city for parking.
"It's going to be wonderful, I'll be able to see and see the birds, and people over there," said Smith.
Mayor Ballard said that's the way the project is supposed to work. He said the city pays for the homes to come down and then hopefully the neighborhoods will see growth, jobs, or new homes.
The money to tear down the vacant properties comes from the recent Citizen's utilities transfer.
"These are one in a lifetime dollars that we can put toward significant improvement in our neighborhoods," Ballard said.
The initiative plans to take down 600 homes by the end of this year and 2,000 more by the end of 2012.
The Marion County Health Department inspects the homes to declare them unsafe and unsalvageable.
If you have a home in your neighborhood you think needs to go on the list, you can contact Abandoned Housing Project.
