Clean Up and Demolition Moving Forward at Brannon Hill Condominium

DECATUR, Ga. – DeKalb County began hauling debris away from demolished buildings at Brannon Hill Condominium in Clarkston on Thursday, July 13. Built in 1973, more than 100 units at the complex are vacant and in various states of disrepair.

“Cleaning up Brannon Hill, or any other blighted property, is a matter of improving public health, public safety and quality of life,” said DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond. “Reducing blight stabilizes and revitalizes neighborhoods and development, which is why its elimination is so critical.”

On Nov. 18, 2016, DeKalb County obtained a court order allowing nuisance abatement in Brannon Hill at four buildings totaling 68 units. Phase I of the cleanup includes removing debris from two buildings (28 units). Phase II will occur later in 2017, when DeKalb will identify and award a contract to demolish and remove debris from the other two buildings (40 units). This project utilizes approximately $400,000 in federal Community Development Block Grant funds.

On July 11, DeKalb County Board of Commissioners approved CEO Thurmond’s midyear budget, which included $1.2 million to reduce blight in DeKalb.

“We redirected existing funds to fight blight,” said CEO Thurmond. “The passage of the midyear budget marks the first time in DeKalb that county funds will be used to demolish houses.”

Highlights of county funds directed at blight reduction include:

• $300,000 to board and abate vacant buildings, which have become eyesores in the community.
• $160,000 to demolish 10 to 12 blighted houses; the first time county funds have been used for this purpose.
• $70,000 for the Solicitor General’s office to hire additional staff to handle blight prosecution and for training on enforcement efforts. 

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