Rotting homes should be torn down

To the editor:

In 1961 I moved to Blytheville to teach World and American History at Blytheville Senior High School. I married a Blytheville girl in 1966. In the 1960s I did not see an area directly west of Walker Park falling down and blighted. It was not necessarily the most prosperous-looking neighborhood, but the houses were taken care of and yards well-kept. We moved away in 1969 and came back for visits through the years. My wife's grandparents lived on East Davis Street. We visited them several times through the years. I did not notice run-down, neglected dwellings west of Walker Park.

In 1998 we retired here. After we purchased our home in Blytheville we began to see more and more houses and apartments west of Walker Park deteriorating. In the last few years there has been an escalation of abandoned and collapsing houses.

Several months ago, I read in the newspaper that Blytheville city government received private funds to assist in ridding Blytheville of some of the abandoned and collapsing houses. I know there is legality involved. I also know the city of Blytheville can override ownership of some of the properties and tear down these houses.

Recently I toured four streets near Walker Park that in past years houses stayed in repair. I saw houses on Missouri, Kentucky, Davis, and Dougan. I am listing 44 houses that should have been leveled years ago. There were many more I did not list:

1 in the 100 block of West Missouri

2 in the 300 block of East Missouri

1 in the 200 block of West Kentucky

2 in the 200 block of East Kentucky

3 in the 200 block of West Davis

1 in the 100 block of East Davis

1 in the 300 block of East Davis

1 in the 400 block of East Dougan

2 in the 200 block of East Dougan

2 in the 200 block of East Missouri

2 in the 100 block of West Kentucky

1 in the 100 block of East Kentucky

5 in the 300 block of East Kentucky

4 in the 100 block of West Davis

2 in the 200 block of East Davis

4 in the 400 block of East Davis

4 in the 300 block of East Dougan

6 in the 100 block of East Dougan

It may sound corny, but it is a crying shame that this has happened in our city. People in charge have done virtually NOTHING to correct this situation. It is shameful to see these rotting houses in the city of Blytheville, Ark.

There is nowhere to go but up! I am trusting our new Blytheville administration will CLEAN UP OUR HOMETOWN!

Thank you for taking time to read how I feel about my town.

Charles Long
Blytheville