Responding to pressure from The Metropolitan Organization (TMO), the City of Houston has issued demolition orders for two long-vacant buildings, one of which is a strip mall that has been abandoned for over 30 years.

"It's old vacant buildings that need to be torn down because it just makes our area look bad," said TMO Leader Carla Burris.

"Our neighborhood is going down from that area, and I just think that we deserve better. We do. We deserve a lot better," TMO Leader Glenda Davis said.

Leaders are pushing the city to demolish these and two other abandoned buildings and have secured public commitments from city council members to transform a former Kmart shopping center into a space for community benefit. They are prepared to testify at an upcoming city council meeting and will continue organizing until these community “eyesores” are resolved.

Demolition may be Near for 4 Buildings Vacant for Decades in Northeast Houston, ABC13 News [pdf]