Less demolitions, more renovations this year
Oakridger
The city of Oak Ridge plans to spend less this year on demolishing houses considered “blighted” and more on renovation of older housing districts than in previous years.
“We’ve gotten a lot of the most egregious ones (demolished). They’re behind us,” Community Development Director Wayne Blasius said. He was responding to questions posed by City Council member Derrick Hammond at a December Council meeting regarding the change of focus away from demolitions. Also, Blasius said “the private sector is a lot more active” in renovating blighted lots. He said often someone from the private sector will take a house the city’s considering demolishing even before the city gets to it.