The Oaktree Apartments were a blighted property involved in years of health violations, crime and legal battles.

The planning process for a long troubled,19-acre property on the Far Eastside of Indianapolis is underway.

The demolition comes after a lengthy battle that ended this summer when the Indiana Court of Appeals upheld a lower courts decision and allowed the city to tear the property down.

Indianapolis says it will demolish the complex, and prepare it for redevelopment, if its eminent domain request is approved.

The proposal sparked a long debate between councilors about continuing to spend money after a unanimously passed balanced budget.