Abandon Homes Eyesore for Hillcrest Community

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Imagine living across the street from not one, but three rundown, abandoned properties in a row. The picture is an everyday reality for people in the Hillcrest area of Memphis, who say owners aren't keeping up.

They're asking the city to step in. Three homes sit side by side on Hudson Street off Summer Avenue. Two of the homes aren't secure, and are open to the elements, but the city said they have to follow the rules, and right now they can't do much

High grass, overgrown vines and trash is the view for people living in the 600 block of Hudson Street.

"People just abandoned these properties, just left them. Nothing's been done about it," said Linda Cullum.

If the look of the properties wasn't bad enough, Cullum said the company they're attracting is enough.

"You call the police, they can't do anything. The crooks, the druggies they know someone can go in and steal and get by with it and it's not right," said Cullum.

Patricia Harris down the street said the properties, one of which has been empty for 10 years, pose a one-two punch for neighbors.

Not only are they eyesores but they also are posing a safety concern.

"Anybody can hide behind the bushes. It just makes the neighborhood bad," said Harris. "I'm just afraid someone will get hurt up in there."

The city said it cut all 3 lawns in August, and left 2 notices for the owner of 683 to clean up their act. Neighbors say they haven't seen anyone, do anything, at any of the homes, and they want them taken down.

"They may be abandoned but that doesn't mean they're at the point of being condemned," said Ernest Dobbins.

Director Ernest Dobbins said by city standards, the structures are all sound.

"If the structure is falling in, we would demolish it, or if the cost was more than 51 percent of what the house is worth to redo it, we could demolish it," said Dobbins.

Dobbins said all they can do is give the owner's time to make changes. If they ignore the violations, the city can then pick up the slack, cutting the grass, boarding up the doors and windows, and attaching the charges to the owner's property tax bill.

According to county tax records, all 3 property owner's already owe back taxes, and 687 Hudson is so delinquent, it's up for tax sale.