The House on Stephens

For years everyone in the neighborhood has seen the eyesore of an abandoned house at the corner of 181st and SE Stephens. Previous experience within this community has helped me understand that an abandoned house usually has much more going on behind the boarded up windows. Abandoned houses tend to be a draw for trouble, and this house was suffering .

Other abandoned houses in the area have turned into shelter for the homeless, graffiti draws, and a hideout for people to break in and do their drugs. As the market suffers and more houses go into foreclosure the fear of this condition multiplying increases. The deconstruction of this house is one less draw for these problems.

Thank goodness the landowner for the house on 181st and Stephens has realized that NO HOUSE on the property is better than a boarded up house. Many neighbors have mentioned to me that they are very happy to see that the house is being taken down. I know the whole neighborhood is breathing a sigh of relief that the boarded structure, the graffiti, and the tall grass will not be the first thing drivers see anymore as they travel through our neighborhood via 181st. Here's hoping that this land will be developed in the future to be another bright spot as we enter Rockwood.