MEMPHIS, TN (abc24.com) - Fed up and demanding action. People living in a Raleigh neighborhood have filed several complaints with Memphis City Hall about the blight in their neighborhood.
From abandoned homes to tall grass, they want the city to do something about the problem. Neighbors may have to lower their expectations. No matter how legitimate their complaints are, residents may not see much action and if they do, they will have to wait for it.
The houses on Felton Road and Walnut Road in Raleigh have been abandoned for years. Neighbors say they've been targeted by vandals and broken into.
“It's a lot further than that. Right down the road here about a mile it's so many abandoned houses in that neighborhood, empty lots that are overgrown 'til it's unreal,” said Patrick Johnson, who has lived in the area his entire life. He says the once stable neighborhood made a turn for the worst in recent years.
The blight that touches nearly every street and plagues others is proof of it.
“The city doesn't do anything; we haven't seen them, they don't come out. People call and complain and they still don't send anybody out,” Johnson said.
Neighbors say when a house caught fire a few years ago, people continued living there even though the conditions seemed anything but livable. After they moved out, the house was neither repaired nor torn down.
It's unclear if the City has any plans for the problem properties. Johnson says residents will suffer until Memphis moves.
“It's causing rats, you know, snakes, all kind of different rodents. We're tired of it,” Johnson said.
But there's no rest for the weary.
A city spokesperson says, as Memphis experiences more cuts to its budget and is forced to do more with less, fewer resources will be available for most city services.
The process of addressing problem properties is often a slow one. From finding the owners of such properties to getting the ball rolling in court, it can take months to tear down a blighted home.
