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QUINCY, Fla. (WCTV) -- After murder and arson at an abandoned home, the City of Quincy is launching a new program to eliminate the eyesores.
Police say three people were found dead at 622 7th Street.
There are two abandoned houses directly to the left of that home. On its right, there's another vacant and boarded up home.
Quincy resident Dorothy Key says all abandoned houses should be knocked down.
"Clean them up. If they demolish them, then there would be nobody within the house when it catches fire and burns up and stuff like that. I think that's what needs to be done," she said.
Quincy city officials say they're working on speeding up the process that determines if building owners should be allowed to voluntarily bring their buildings into compliance, or if the city should take legal steps to tear down the structures.
Quincy resident Ida Mae Lockett said, "I think that's a great idea. It's something we should've done years ago."
Some of the abandoned houses around town have overgrown lawns with boarded windows and doors.
City officials say these type of buildings are often used for illegal activities such as drug dealing, drug use and prostitution.
"That would keep down crime. It'll be a safer place for people to live and you would not have individuals, homeless people, staying in those kind of homes. Hopefully we'll find somewhere else for them to live," Lockett said.
City officials say the overall issue will be discussed, with possibly reviewing or changing city ordinance, at the next regular commission meeting. The meeting is next Tuesday at 6 p.m. at City Hall.
REPRINTED FROM wctv.tv