Demolition of two buildings at what was known as “the worst community in America” began this morning.
DeKalb County identified Brannon Hill Condominiums, located near Memorial Drive and the city of Clarkston, as one of many blighted and dilapidated buildings in need of demolition for safety and health reasons, CEO Michael Thurmond said.
Brannon Hill has been deteriorating for more than a decade, ravaged by fires and lack of repair. Following an official complaint by the county, a court order was issued in November 2016 to allow DeKalb to demolish four buildings.
“The deplorable conditions at Brannon Hill Condominiums constitute a public nuisance, which imperils the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of that neighborhood,” the county said in a statement.
Today’s phase of demolition addresses Building 3 and Building 4, representing 28 of the approximately 108 vacated units in various states of disrepair. Around 122 units at the complex have already been demolished and 186 are still inhabited.
“Brannon Hill has become much more than an eyesore,” Thurmond said. “It is a breeding ground for fleas, mosquitoes, and rodents that can carry and transmit diseases, illegal dumps, and havens for drugs, gangs and other criminal activity.”
Credit: Chad Rhym
Credit: Chad Rhym
Removing plighted properties
The county recently approved a $1.27 billion budget that included a $400,000 Community Development Block Grant to specifically address the conditions at Brannon Hill. That grant is a part of a total $1.2 million in funds allocated to remove litter, board up vacant buildings, demolish other blighted properties, and to hire an additional attorney in the Solicitor General's office and code enforcement officers.
These additional personnel will help the city to streamline the citation process and prosecute owners of abandoned and blighted properties, quickening the removal of those buildings.
This is the first time that DeKalb has used county funds to demolish blighted properties, instead of relying on state and federal funds, Thurmond said.
“This is only the first day in the continued removal of blighted properties, but it is a major day in the history of DeKalb County,” said Allen Mitchell, director of Community Development. “We are working to hire a contractor to demolish 40 more units composing Building 1 and Building 4 at Brannon Hill later this year.”
“Our work to remediate blight is a journey and not an event. It did not begin at Brannon Hill and it will not end at Brannon Hill,” Thurmond said. “We will restore DeKalb to be the place people choose to live, work and play.”
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