Henderson City Council Meeting January 11th, 2016 – Citizens Aligned To Take Back Henderson, NC Audio


At the Henderson City Council Meeting on January 11th, 2016, a local group Citizens Aligned To Take Back Henderson, NC made a presentation to the City Council.  

Audio of the meeting can be heard here:

[jwplayer mediaid=”69414″]

Statement from the group:

Our goal is to create a better environment for education in our public schools, and improve the quality of life in and the image of the City of Henderson by having all abandoned dilapidated buildings, both residential and commercial removed.

Sadly, the 400 plus abandoned dwellings in the City of Henderson house multiple types of criminal behavior. Many of them are on the same street as some of our elementary and middle schools. This is not an environment suitable for learning and is something that needs to be addressed immediately. There are also health concerns associated with these houses. Many have molds and asbestos, both of which can be deadly. Many of these dwellings are able to be entered without force. In neighborhoods with young, adventurous children, is it reasonable to think the children never go inside?

We believe Henderson is at a turning point and we are asking our City Council and County Commissioners to join forces and make this issue a top priority, for our future. Removing these structures will make way for growth, something that is vital for us. The City Of Henderson is the heart of Vance County and she needs you, your voice and your support. If our community doesn’t stand up and demand that our leaders make these ‘life saving’ changes, where will Henderson be in ten, fifteen or twenty years?

An abandoned structure in Henderson, NC is defined as:

ABANDONED STRUCTURES (Chapter 21A)

The purpose of the Abandoned Structure Ordinance is to enforce the repair, closing and demolition of any abandoned structure in accordance with provisions and procedures as set forth by law (N.C.G.S.160A-441). An “abandoned structure” is defined as a structure that is hazardous to the health, safety and welfare of the residents due to the presence of insects or rodents, conditions creating a fire hazard, conditions constituting a threat to children, or frequent use by vagrants as living quarters and the absence of sanitary facilities. In addition, any structure that has been without legal occupants for a period of at least one hundred twenty (120) days may also qualify as “abandoned”.

The group has a Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/cleanuphenderson

There is an active ppetition at: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/citizensaligned/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=button