ATLANTA (CBS ATLANTA) -
It's the day of reckoning for an apartment complex in Southwest Atlanta. After years of complaints, the buildings at 2020 Alison Ct. in Southwest Atlanta are coming down.
"Hallelujah! Safety, at least partially. It's the beginning," said Gwendolyn England, an area resident.
Residents said the abandoned complex is an eyesore and a magnet for crime.
"Drugs, prostitution, shootings, you name it. Everything is bad," said Bessie Harris, who lives in the area.
Residents said getting the City of Atlanta to do something was a long frustrating process.
"Brent Sobol and I started about six years ago and we went and talked to city officials and he beat on the meeting table and I thought they would kick us out, but they knew we were right," England said.
Once the demolition was approved, residents had to endure a couple of delays. But it appears the third time is the charm.
"There is no question it was frustrating. This property had mortgage fraud on it, and there were very complex title issues the city had to deal with. We are just glad it is down," said Brent Sobol, who owns a business in the area.
Last December, the City of Atlanta said as many as 200 buildings would be taken down within a year's time.
CBS Atlanta News reporter Bernard Watson asked the city's Code Enforcement Department Tough Questions about how far workers had gotten.
"How many buildings are coming down today?" Watson asked.
"We have four properties coming down today," said Maj. C.J. Davis, the head of the city's Code Enforcement Department.
"How many are waiting for permits?" Watson asked.
"Fifteen," said Davis.
"So what is the best-case scenario, when can we see those other 15 coming down?" Watson asked.
"In the next 30 days," said Davis.
Despite Wednesday's developments, residents said the city is not off the hook.
"We'll see what happens. It's a good start," England said.
Copyright 2012 WGCL-TV (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved.
