HARTSVILLE, S.C. (WBTW)-The city of Hartsville makes plans to take over multiple buildings it calls an “eye sore” and potentially dangerous. The city wants to take over Lincoln Village apartments and demolish the condemned apartments. The apartments are located in a neighborhood off 8th and Marion streets.
“It’s just sitting there, doing nothing, rotting,” said Jeffery Franklin.
That is how surrounding neighbors describe Lincoln Village.
“It’s a good place to say. It’s just coming outside and looking at that and trying to figure out if anyone is going to do anything with it.”
Jeffery Franklin has lived off of 8th street for more than twenty years and says he tired of waking up to the eye-sore every day.
“If I had the money, I would do something with it. You know put a playground or a community center or something. Something for the kids, something where the kids could come and play.”
Residents off of 8th street and city officials say people haven’t lived in these apartments at Lincoln Village in more than fifteen years which is why residents and city officials both hope that these buildings are torn down.
“We’ve been seeking to get Lincoln Village torn down for a while. It’s a hazard, it can be a hazard in terms of crime, in terms of fire, and it just doesn’t need to be there,” said Russell Cox, city of Hartsville, PIO.
Ultimately the city wants to redevelop the area but for now Russell Cox says the city doesn’t want to get too far ahead of themselves.
“What has happened now is the first reading on ordinance to have the property transferred from the current owners to the city and from there the city can move forward to help with the costs of demolition.”
Cox says people don’t understand the price tag for projects like this.
“It won’t be cheap, we are pursuing grants for it, it really is going to take grants to make that happen.”
As for Franklin…he says doing anything with the property would be a good start.
“Just do something with it.”
The city will have a second hearing in April. If that passes they will apply for the community development block grant to help aid in the cost of demolition. Ultimately their goal is to redevelop the area.
