Abandoned houses near ballpark slated for demolition
Credit: Cassandra Sherrill/Journal
Area of detail
Published: February 22, 2011
Winston-Salem city officials are demanding that 14 empty homes owned by the development company behind BB&T Ballpark be demolished within the next three months.
The houses, on Peters Creek Parkway, Park Circle and First Street, across from the city's baseballstadium, have been boarded up and abandoned since before the stadium was finished.
The Winston-Salem City Council voted unanimously Monday night to order the buildings torn down.
Nearby residents have complained that the houses attract rats and the homeless. Commuters and city advocates have complained that the houses are an eyesore at one of the main entrances to downtownWinston-Salem.
The stadium's baseball team, the Class-A Winston-Salem Dash, contacted the city Jan. 18 and told city officials that it was soliciting bids for demolition.
Team president Geoff Lassiter said in early January that the team was seeking permits to have the homes demolished. Lassiter said then that it would be 30 to 60 days before the homes were torn down.
Lassiter has said the team would use the land for temporary parking.
The team is a farm club for the Chicago White Sox. Lassiter said this year that the houses would be torn down before the start of this season. The first game, an exhibition against the White Sox, is scheduled for March 30. The team's Class-A season begins April 8.
In other news, the council agreed to discuss changing the city's rules about the percentage of minority- or women-owned businesses that must participate in city-bid projects.
That percentage currently changes depending on the job and the number of minority- or women-owned businesses able to perform the work. Councilman James Taylor, who represents the city's Southeast Ward, suggested Monday night that the city change that fluctuating number to a minimum of 10 percent participation per job by minority- and women-owned businesses.
The council agreed to discuss the suggestion further this year.
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