One of the six policy priority areas included in the City of Savannah 2021 budget is blight eradication. The effort is already underway in West Savannah, with new homes replacing vacant, blighted properties on Cumming Street. 

Longtime residents say this work "gives the street a whole new feel and an entirely new look."

The city began demolition of blighted property on Cumming Street in 2019 after working with the state legislature to change eminent domain laws. Of the 37 properties on Cumming Street, 21 were abandoned or blighted when the city started this process. In total, the Housing and Neighborhood Services Department plans to build eight single-family homes on Cumming Street, with the first home already built and sold to first-time homebuyer Lescia Gonzalez Rivera. 

Sanitation Director Gene Prevatt says blight is "everybody's problem, and we should all be working together to make that go away," and that's why fighting blight is a priority in the 2021 budget. From regular weekly curbside garbage pickup to partnering with communities, civic groups, and businesses to clean-up and beautify neighborhoods, sanitation staff works hard every day to improve our city.

Savannah's Code Enforcement Department is also out on the streets every day, working with the public to help solve problems and ensure neighborhoods are clean and safe for residents.