Duluth demolishing 13 blighted properties

Duluth has begun demolishing at least 13 blighted properties throughout the city.

The vacant houses, spread throughout the city, near downtown and in eastern and western neighborhoods, have been holding back the community for years by reducing property values, officials said.

It's important to remove the blighted properties and free up land to build much needed workforce and single family housing, said Duluth community relations officer Daniel Fanning.

"We know that there's contractors interested in building in Duluth," Fanning said. "It's getting to the point where it's getting more difficult to find land and find space to do so."

The city has identified about 40 homes throughout the city to demolish. Some have sat vacant for more than 20 years, "so this is long overdue, and you can imagine what a burden the place is on the community and the neighborhoods around them," he added.

The first abandoned building was demolished last week in west Duluth. Two more are slated to be destroyed this week.