Anniston receives federal funds for blight control

The City of Anniston's battle against blight has gotten a boost from the federal government.

The city received a community development block grant to help demolish abandoned buildings deemed dangerous.  The council voted Monday to approve the use of $95,000 dollars to tear down 15 structures on a list of 13 addresses.

The average estimated expense is about $12,000, so the grant will not cover all of the designated properties.  The city code enforcement officers must determine which will be the priority in order to maximize each dollar. 

City manager Brian Johnson said one factor for selecting which houses come down first is what other buildings are nearby.

The city manager said in a perfect world, he would rather renovate, but the 15 on the demolition list and probably hundreds are beyond repair.  He said the city faces a decision about keeping a building that is falling in and a threat to public safety.  He said the buildings can be a risk to children playing, and attract vermin and possible criminal activity.

City officials said the materials in some of the decaying homes means their removal is more complicated than razing with a bulldozer.  Many of the buildings have asbestos and lead-based paint, so extra steps are necessary for the demolition.

The city accepted bids from some contractors and hopes to start demolition on the first property within the next 10 days.