Braddock residents raise concern about blight after fire levels abandoned rowhomes
BRADDOCK, Pa. (KDKA) - A set of row homes came crashing down in Braddock as flames ripped through the building early Thursday morning.
Before the building collapsed, firefighters were on the scene just before 2 a.m. They said the homes along Oliver Street were abandoned when they caught fire.
The fire, leveling the row homes, sparked a conversation about blight. Neighbors believe the eyesores will never go away.
"They say they're going to do, they're going to do, they're going to do, but nothing ever gets done. Nothing ever gets done around here," said Braddock resident Anette E. Baldwin.
Baldwin has lived in Braddock for more than 40 years. She said it's hard to drive around her community and see blight and signs of disorder everywhere: vacant properties, abandoned homes, trash ditched in overgrown weeds and cars that have been parked for as long as she can remember.
All of this, Baldwin said, has a way of spreading.
"You can see nothing has been done in Braddock. Everything has been taken away," Baldwin said.
Blight has been a problem for years. Baldwin said the borough continually says it's going to take care of it but that's just lip service.
"There's so many blighted areas. They're tearing down houses and when they tear down the houses they just leave it and the weeds start growing. It's like we live in a jungle. Braddock looks like it's a jungle. It's horrible, it's really horrible for us to have to live in this situation this time in my life," she said.
Locals agreed with Baldwin but cite additional reasons for the unsightly landscape.
Longtime resident of the borough, Durand Gill said, "You might buy a property that's worth $15-20,000 but the school taxes are $30,000. It makes no sense to invest into it because you're paying more just for school taxes than what the property is worth."
Whatever the reasons for the eyesores, the community wants to know their voices are heard.
"I would just like to see someone come in and help. Help us. Help us, help the people of Braddock."
The borough declined KDKA's request for an interview but said it's working hard on ridding the blight and it's an ongoing process.
