Winston-Salem moves to demolish six blighted properties

Winston-Salem is moving to demolish several blighted properties on the city’s east side.

City staffers have determined that eight properties located on Harrington Circle and Lakeview Boulevard are in varying states of disrepair and no longer fit for habitation. 

Photos of the homes shared with the city council show caved-in roofs, windows covered with plywood and burned siding. 

The units are owned by Patio Court Apartments, LLC. Property manager Erica Hernandez told council they’re working to bring the Lakeview homes up to code.

“We are working hard to get them up and running," she said. "We wanted an opportunity to not get them demolished.”

Council agreed to table the issue for two units Hernandez said had been recently worked on. But the six remaining properties were approved for demolition.

Councilmember John Larson said the owners have had ample time to address these issues. 

"They've been a blight on the landscape now for over 14 years now," said Larson. "I hope we can send a signal out somehow during inspections and out to developers who own these properties that we can't continue to tolerate this kind of stuff in the landscape of Winston Salem. "It's a disservice to the whole city."

The city says the property owner now has 90 days to make needed repairs or level the buildings. If the company doesn’t comply, Winston-Salem will move ahead with demolition.