City Gets Feedback On Demolishing Blighted Properties

Indianapolis residents are weighing in on a list of properties that could be demolished using federal dollars

The Hardest Hit Fund Blight Elimination Program is designed to help tear down rundown homes as a way to revive neighborhoods. The money was originally intended to help with mortgage foreclosure prevention, but wasn’t spent fast enough. So, Indiana was approved to use $75 million for demolition of blighted properties across the state.

Indianapolis received $6.39 million from that fund.

Department of Metropolitan Development Deputy Director Jeff Roeder says the city identified about 160 properties to demolish with that money and wants to hear plans on what should be done with them after.

"If there is somebody who is going to be able to save a structure and has the means to do so, we would love to see that happen and there is certainly blight that we can go out and remove," he said.  "It's just a matter of having that feedback and knowing that those participants are willing to take on the project and having the real means to do so."

Roeder says it will cost about $15,000 to $20,000 to demolish each of the properties.

He says the goal is to start removing them by the fall and winter.