Blitz to remove blight.

One of the best parts of my job as a member of Macon's City Council is to serve on the Community Resources and Development Committee which reviews and supports the work of the Economic and Community Development Department. ECDD works on numeorous issues in our community including neighborhood stabilization and revitalization. The following is a press release from ECDD regarding the demolition blitz that begins this Friday in the Bartlett Crossing Community. I urge everyone to come out and celebrate as we move forward toward improvement of that community and all of Macon.

On Friday October 24, the City of Macon through its Economic and Community Development Department (ECD) will take a bold step to eradicate blight and decline in the Bartlett Crossing Community. In partnership with the City’s environmental contractor, Geotechnical Environmental Consultants (GEC) and the Department of Public Works, ECD will demolish 35 open and dilapidated units in the two block area adjacent to the intersection of Bartlett Street and Ernest Street. The public is invited to attend the press conference at 9:00 a.m. located on the 1100 block of Ernest Street. Demolition of the dilapidated structures will commence shortly thereafter and continue for next several weeks.

Community Leaders from the Manna Community Housing and Development Organization, Lizzie Chapel Baptist Church and the City are working on a plan to revitalize the Bartlett Crossing Community. In response to their efforts, ECD has agreed to take down as many abandoned properties in the area as possible. ECD has identified over 100 units of abandoned housing units within the Bartlett Crossing Community. “I made a promise to Manna and the Bartlett Crossing community that I would do something about blight in Bartlett Crossing once I became Mayor.” says Mayor Robert A.B. Reichert. “I am pleased that we are able to this in my first year in office.”

Once these 35 properties have been removed, the City demolition total for the year will be 70 units, nearly doubling last years pace. Kevin DuBose, the Director of Economic and Community Development cites the creation of the Neighborhoods Division with his department as the biggest reason for the increased production. “The City is well on its way of making its commitment of tearing down 100 dilapidated housing units this year. We are using new tools to fight blight and we are getting results.”

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