NUISANCE BUILDINGS: City Wants To Demolish Houses

The Des Moines city council has declared two homes on the east side — nuisance buildings.

Des Moines Community Development Director Phil Delafield says, “It makes it very difficult to redevelop those properties.  They can become a continuing negative influence on the neighborhoods.”

The city has a list of buildings it wants to demolish. One of the homes on East Holcombe Avenue has been empty since the flood of 2008. The other house is on East 13th Street. Both houses are considered to be health hazards. 

The city will now head to court to attempt to remove the buildings. It costs the city about $15,000 to demolish just one house. The city has a budget of $100,000 a year for demolition.

If the homes are demolished, the city will place liens on the properties to recoup expenses.