TOLEDO, Ohio — Residents of east Toledo celebrated the demolition of blighted houses on Seaman Road Wednesday.
Denise Karcsak called the Call 11 for Action phone bank in March to report that her deceased neighbor's house was full of stench, vermin and trash, leaving her unable to enjoy her own property.
At that time, Call 11 for Action reached out to several Toledo departments and learned that the house was on a demolition list for 2024.
Karcsak contacted WTOL 11 Wednesday afternoon to report that the house was in the process of being torn down by the city.
"There were big noises out here and then I saw that they were stopped, and I know we have a little bit of potholes out here, so I thought, 'Well, they're probably going to fix the road,' and then they came by with the big machine and I told my mom, 'Yes, they're finally going to get it done,'" Karcsak said.
Call 11 for Action observed Karcsak's neighbor's house being torn down at 2300 Seaman Rd., as well as a blighted house across the street.
"I am so ecstatic and happy that it's finally done and over with and I want to thank you guys, Channel 11," Karcsak said.
A Toledo city worker told Call 11 for Action that another house a few doors down from Karcsak next to the railroad track would also be demolished on Wednesday.
Another Toledo resident, Willie Carter, called into that same March phone bank to report that his deceased next-door neighbor's property was also blighted and had become a den for drug use. Call 11 for Action visited the home at 965 Post St. and observed vines covering a portion of the house, trash, cats and the doors to the house opened.
Call 11 for Action confirmed that the owner of 965 Post St., Carmen Williamson, has been dead since 2020.
"It's so bad over here, my grandkids, my kids come over here, they can't even come outside to play because they say, 'Papa, what's that smell coming out of the house?'" Carter said.
Both Carter and Karcsak said their quality of life was suffering and that their multiple complaints to the city of Toledo had gone ignored, though they both pay their property taxes and keep up their homes.
"Why should I have to live like this? It's disgusting," Carter said. "I pay property taxes. In the summertime, I can't come out here and sit on my front porch because the smell comes over here. I can't put my windows up because the smell comes in the house. I'm stuck in my house."
Regarding Carter's complaint, the City of Toledo said, "The Division of Urban Beautification has 965 Post St. added to the 2024 cyclical mowing program. This property will receive routine maintenance through October. A team member from Urban Beautification will be dispatched to review the property and dispatch a crew as appropriate for resolution."
In 2022, the Lucas County Land Bank told 11 Investigates that it surveyed Toledo's 120,000 properties and determined just under 1,500 need to be demolished.
If you have a problem you need help solving, email 11investigates@wtol.com.
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