A work crew demolishes a blighted home on South Purdue Avenue in Woodland on Thursday. (Photos courtesy City of Oak Ridge/Matt Widner)
The city of Oak Ridge bought a blighted home at the corner of Northwestern and South Purdue avenues in April and demolished it on Thursday, June 26.
“It was in really bad shape,” Oak Ridge Community Development Director Kathryn Baldwin said. “This one was past saving.”
The home, which had been vacant, was extremely contaminated and dirty inside, and there were problems with every system in the small, single-story house, including the electrical and heating and cooling systems, said Matt Widner, Oak Ridge Community Development housing specialist. The ceilings were collapsing.
“It was a mess,” Widner said.
The straw-covered quarter-acre lot is now vacant. Before the demolition, a yard sign said the project was “Turning Blight into Right.”
Matt Widner, Oak Ridge Community Development housing specialist, said the ceilings were collapsing at a now-demolished home on South Purdue Avenue.
The next step hasn’t been determined. The Oak Ridge City Council could transfer it or decide to do something else with the property.
Baldwin said Oak Ridge has three funds to buy and demolish blighted homes. Federal Community Development Block Grant funds target low- to moderate-income homes. Another fund known as EDI also  targets low- to moderate-income homes, but it is limited to the Highland View Redevelopment Area, Baldwin said.
Then, there is also some money set aside by the Oak Ridge City Council.
Baldwin said most of Woodland is in the CDBG area, but the now-demolished home at 138 South Purdue Avenue was just outside that area.
Baldwin said this demolition was important because it was in a good area of Woodland where most homes are well-maintained and there are more owner-occupied houses.
Widner said the total cost to buy and demolish the house was $29,826.36.
A sign out front said the demolition project was “Turning Blight into Right.” (Photo by John Huotari)
Terry Pfeiffer says
Wouldn’t it be great if the vacant lots could be converted to community gardens?
johnhuotari says
I lived in south Denver for a while, and there was a coop community garden near our house that seemed successful. I wonder if something similar would work here.
I know there are some people in Oak Ridge who have proposed a community garden, but I don’t know how far along that project is.
Carol Donath says
Fantastic idea, tended by neighbors for neighbors.
Carole Schulman says
I wonder if the City will consider demolishing the old Paragon Fitness Club over in Briarcliff shipping center? It really looks full of mold and decay.
johnhuotari says
I don’t know the current status of the former Paragon Fitness Club, but I’ll try to check into when I have a chance.