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City boards up eyesore properties

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – The sun beamed down on Julie Fidler as she walked around a couple of abandon condos. During a walk around the properties it became clear the buildings were in desperate need of attention.

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department surrounded the condos in the 4200 block of Brentwood near 42nd Street and Post Road. The officers walked into the building to make sure no one was inside the building.

Once the building was clear, crews started cleaning up around the property.

Broken glass dotted the ground, overgrown weeds crowded the walkway, and a door was left open for anyone to come in and out of one of the condos.

“One of the residents said prostitutes were actively going in the condo,” said Fidler.

This clean-up effort comes after complaints from residents in the community about the eyesore properties.

Crews also trimmed back shrubs and boarded up a vacant home in the 500 block of Udell Street after complaints of squatters going in and out of the building.

24-Hour News 8 talked to residents about the clean-up efforts, and found that many in those neighborhoods did not want to talk publicly about the properties being boarded up.

Richard Rendo who lives near the Brentwood properties, gave his approval of the work by the city workers to improve conditions in his neighborhood.

Rendo did express he would like to see the homes fixed up and used for families in need.

“I don’t know why they don’t fix them up and give them to poor families, “said Rendo.

In addition to improving living conditions, the crews were also looking for those living a criminal lifestyle.

The goal is to provide those living a criminal lifestyle with resources on how to improve their quality of life without using crime.

The group will continue to make visits to eyesore properties in Indy this summer.