Rockdale to demolish four unsafe houses

CONYERS Rockdale County will demolish four houses that have been deemed unfit for human habitation following a vote by the Board of Commissioners Tuesday morning.

The houses are located at 1582 Broad St., 1777 Grimes St., 2662 Zingara Road, and 3817 Arbor Lane.

Planning and Development Director Marshall Walker told commissioners at a work session last week that the county had gone through the necessary process to notify property owners of code violations and proceed with the demolition.

Walker said Tuesday that court hearings were held for each property and each was found to be uninhabitable. Under state law, if a property cannot be brought up to code at a reasonable cost in relation to the present value, the owners may be ordered to demolish the structures.

Since the owners failed to carry out the demolition within the time specified by the court, commissioners voted to proceed with the demolition at county expense.

The county is authorized by state law to place a lien against the real property where the houses are located in order recoup the cost of demolition, including all court costs, appraisal fees, administrative costs incurred by the tax commissioner and all other costs associated with the demolition. Walker said Tuesday that the county will be responsible for removing and disposing of the structures, in addition to any driveway paving. The cost of demolition for each house is in the $10,000 range, he said.

Under state law, the countys lien will be superior to all other liens except tax liens.

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Rockdale to demolish four unsafe houses