ATLANTA (CBS ATLANTA) -
Lawrence Reeves Jr. pastors a church on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in southwest Atlanta and said there's nothing pristine about the area.
"I've had two catalytic converters stolen off of my vehicles here in the community," Reeves said.
One major reason for the crime is that there is a massive eyesore in the neighborhood. The Essex Court Apartments have been abandoned for years and the city has responded to more than 30 code violations there during the past decade.
"The truth is we've fought drug situations in this community and at this apartment complex for years and the truth is as we tear this complex down we are reducing crime by just that action," Atlanta Police Chief George Turner said.
Workers began demolishing the apartments Thursday after negotiating a deal with JP Morgan Chase bank, co-owners of the property.
"They're going to be funding a demolition that would typically cost $250,000," Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed said.
Last November, city officials said that they would be tearing down 200 other similar properties within the year, so CBS Atlanta News reporter Adam Murphy asked them about it.
"How many properties have come down since last year when this all began?" Murphy asked.
"I would say somewhere in the ballpark of 45 to 50 properties and they're still under way," Atlanta Police Maj. C.J. Davis said.
The city still has a great deal of work to do to eliminate the blight, but this local pastor calls today a blessing.
"We rejoice and be glad in it and thank God this particular facility is going down," Reeves said.
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