
DATE: Monday, August 18, 1997               TAG: 9708180087

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B2   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY BATTINTO BATTS JR., STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH                        LENGTH:   61 lines

PORTSMOUTH PUTS 8 ABANDONED HOUSES ON ITS DEMOLITION LIST

Eight abandoned houses in the Brighton/south Portsmouth community are targeted for an attack in the city's war on ugly.

The houses have been cited as potential health hazards and havens for crime and drug activity.

Now the city has condemned them to death by bulldozer.

Starting on Wednesday, the city will begin ``Operation Sledgehammer,'' a plan to obliterate the structures in hope of making the property available for new development.

The city's housing authority plans to sell the property for new-home development.

The project, which will cost $300,000, will be funded by a $200,000 federal Community Block Grant and a $100,000 state grant.

It's part of Portsmouth's plan to increase real estate tax revenues, reduce crime and improve its overall quality of life.

``Part of the fact is that it is not fair to the viable homeowner and taxpayer that keeps his property up to be in proximity to others that have not had the needed attention. It lowers property values,'' said Mayor James W. Holley III. ``Having that property taken out of the system might make it attractive to someone that would assemble and build a house that is a taxable one. The impetus is to instill a sense of pride in the community.''

A house at 926 Fayette St. is first on the city's hit list. City records show that the property owner lives in Hampton.

The owner listed on city records had an unlisted phone number and could not be reached for comment.

City officials say they are working to make absentee landlords accountable for derelict properties, but they are often hard to locate.

A recent study revealed that the Brighton/south Portsmouth area has the largest concentration of abandoned homes in the city, said Sheila P. Pittman, director of citizen and community outreach.

Fred Brusso, the director of neighborhood quality services, said city officials have been working since January to contact the owners and offer them an opportunity to refurbish the houses.

``We are not just going to take the houses,'' Brusso said. ``We have given them every opportunity to fix the houses.''

Raleigh Harsley, a 48-year resident of the Brighton community, said he is glad to see the city finally doing something about abandoned homes in his neighborhood.

``There are quite a few. Some of them are beyond repair,'' Harsley said.

``I have been bringing this up for some time. There are people that hang around in the houses, and I am very concerned. It is a concern because it makes the community look bad and it is a danger for kids.'' ILLUSTRATION: PROPERTIES

Properties slated for demolition in ``Operation Sledgehammer'':

502 Oak St.

1607 Highland Ave.

2516 Elm Ave.

1212-14 Elm Ave.

1300 Portsmouth Blvd.

926 Fayette St.

1239-41 Centre Ave.

1309 Summit Ave.