Editorial: Abandoned buildings

THE REGISTER-HERALD (BECKLEY, W.V.)

Sat, May 17 2008

— Editorial: Abandoned buildings
It’s every citizen’s responsibility to help eliminate these eyesores

Opinion: The Register-Herald, Beckley, W.Va.

Several members of the Raleigh County-Make It Shine committee took a mini-tour this week of Raleigh County — including municipalities and the county proper — to determine how great a problem dilapidated and abandoned buildings are.
What they saw left them aghast, appalled and — to be quite honest — somewhat depressed.
The group drove through parts of Beckley, Raleigh, Mabscott, Dry Hill, Eccles, Lester, Stotesbury, Sophia and points on back roads in between, keeping a list as they went. When the tour ended, there were 50 sites on the book, but some of the entries were composed of multiple buildings.
Why is this important?
First is safety. Many of the buildings were in such bad shape they looked as if a strong wind could blow them over. Many of them are in heavily residential neighborhoods. Children love to wander and explore. Where better than an empty, old house or church or industrial site? What if a child stepped in the wrong place or touched the wrong beam? Any number of disasters lurk.
Vermin, predators and drug addicts and dealers also are a part of the safety equation.
A second consideration is the adverse effect such structures have on the surrounding neighborhood. In many of these neighborhoods there are houses at the opposite end of the spectrum — pretty, well kept homes that show pride of ownership. Factor in a couple of dilapidated or abandoned houses nearby and property values for the nice homes likely plummet.
Another concern is the damper the site of such buildings puts on economic development. Anyone looking to move himself or his business to Beckley or Raleigh County who sees the multitude of buildings in a state of near collapse probably will go elsewhere in a short hurry.
One of the places the committee visited was near the soon-to-be built ATV trail in the Winding Gulf area. On just one short country lane, there were at least six old houses that were in some phase of collapse. Some might call them stereotypical Appalachian hillbilly homesteads. While visiting riders may not express their opinions locally, don’t you think they would when they get home — and maybe even have pictures?
That’s not a good advertisement for Raleigh County.
Both the county and the city have procedures in place to deal with such structures. But they need help from residents to set those wheels in motion.
The county’s dilapidated and abandoned building ordinance calls for “neighboring residents” to submit a one-page form — available on the county’s Web site, www.raleighcounty.com — and a photograph of the structure. The city asks that residents report such buildings to their council representatives.
The building won’t come down right away. There are procedures that must be followed and the property owner’s rights must be taken into account.
Raleigh County residents see these structures on a daily basis. Only better things can come by getting rid of them. Every citizen should count it as his or her responsibility to help eliminate these eyesores from Raleigh County and Beckley’s landscapes.
The dilapidated state of the houses and buildings did not happen overnight, nor will their removal. However, citizens can positively affect their community by taking the time to note deteriorated structures and send them on to the respective agency. In time there will be changes.