Group working to rehab Indy's abandoned homes 5.12.11

WTHR

Abandoned homes are easy targets for criminals and arsonists, and they can be found in almost every city neighborhood.

On the near east side neighbors are celebrating as an abandoned home is demolished.

"It's beautiful. I feel so much better. Just to look at it in rubble, it makes me feel better," said Carol Parson.

"Abandoned" is the common thread that connects most of the homes that were torched early Tuesday. Indianapolis has up to 10,000 abandoned homes that attract all kinds of crime. City officials would rather someone come in an fix its old abandoned homes but some of them are beyond repair. The last resort is demolition.

"Our target and our aim is to take out 2,000 of the worst properties," said Reginald Walton, Department of Metropolitan Development.

He's talking about homes considered a public health hazard and that chronically are at the center of crimes. "I feel that abandoned homes are problems but there can be a solution made once you wipe the slate clean and start new," said Walton.

Ray and Robin Gonzalez agree. They moved from Carmel to a once-dilapidated south side home after it was rehabbed two years ago.

"I love being down here, I love the people I'm meeting and getting to know and developing good relationships," said Robin. Ray and Robin Gonzalez are missionaries from a group called People of Praise. They've helped restore nine homes in this neighborhood and clean up 20 others.

"The goal would be to fill up those houses and not leave them vacant; make them livable and present a lifestyle here that people are not afraid of, not ashamed of," said Ray.

While most see boarded-up eyesores, these missionaries have a different perspective.

"I see a possibility. There's a house with enough space for six people to live in. There's a house where kids can get raised. There's a house where new things can happen. All it takes is some people to make it happen," said David Zimmell, People of Praise.
Indy Land Bank - See the city's abandoned homes up for sale
http://www.wthr.com/story/14628248/group-working-to-rehab-indys-abandoned-homes