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Mar 21, 2009 9:12 am US/Central
8 Inspectors Check Up On Nearly 850 Vacant Homes
BROOKLYN PARK, Minn. (WCCO) ―
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Vandalism is big in vacant homes. Inspectors come out at least once a month to make sure everything is secure.
CBS
The foreclosure mess isn't just hurting homeowners. In this new economy, city workers are trying to keep an eye on all those empty houses.
Brooklyn Park's eight inspectors are overseeing nearly 850 vacant homes.
"It's been this way for over a year I believe" said Jesse Anderson, a neighborhood preservation specialist.
The mold on the walls of a vacant Brooklyn Park home looked like black-and-white wallpaper.
"I'm assuming that they left and the furnace went out while they were gone and the pipes broke and that's where the damage came," said Anderson. "This room is pretty bad. You can see the mold is in the entire room. You can see that even the ceiling fan has gotten some problems from the humidity and the moisture."
Before the house can be sold, it needs major renovations.
"I'm assuming they'll have to take it down to the studs and do some treatment on the structural members too," said Anderson.
The home will also have to pass several inspections before anyone can live there. Officials think it's worth saving.
"I would say it probably is [worth salvaging]. We've had a few ones that are worse that have been rehabbed," said Anderson.
"You can tell that somebody pried this door," said Michelle Peterson, another neighborhood preservation specialist.
Someone broke into the rambler home. The police check the place out before city inspectors go inside.
"We probably get two or three calls like this a week, just looking at houses that they find the door standing open or unlocked," said one officer.
Vandalism is big in vacant homes. Inspectors come out at least once a month to make sure everything is secure.
"That actually looks like BBs [were fired through the window]. These windows were intact the first couple of times I was out here and then every time since then, I see more damage to them," said Peterson.
City crews also have to deal with trashy yards. Many folks just leave their unwanted items outside when they're told to leave. The city has to come and clean it up.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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