CORPUS CHRISTI, TX —
An abandoned home on Green Grove Drive in Corpus Christi is set to be demolished after neighbors reached out to KRIS 6 and city and law enforcement officials took action.
Linda Cantu, an elderly homeowner on Green Grove Drive, contacted our newsroom about the abandoned property next to her home, which had become a gathering place for vagrants and a source of danger for the entire neighborhood.
"I can't take this anymore," Cantu said.
Neighbor Michelle Cortinas described the ongoing problems the home had created on the street.
"Not only do they come and do whatever they want in there. They break into vehicles up and down the street," Cortinas said.
After KRIS 6 reported on the home, the Corpus Christi Police Department got involved.
"Your story is what alerted me," Corpus Christi Police Department Assistant Chief David Blackmon told Drew Bishop.
City Council District 2 Councilmember Sylvia Campos said the city heard the community's concerns.
"We heard her loud and clear... and we are addressing the issue," Campos said.
Police were able to get in touch with the person who held property rights to the home, who then gave up ownership.
Campos outlined the next steps toward demolition.
"We have to take it to the Building and Boards board committee. That's not until November. Once they approve it then we can go ahead and send it off to the county and then we can demolish it," Campos said.
In the meantime, Blackmon said officers were sent to board up the home so no one can break in before it is demolished.
"We have a crime control district. We were able to use some of those funds to buy plywood. So the officers are actually boarding these properties up now," Blackmon said.
Cantu and her roommate, Mr. Avila, said they were glad their call to the KRIS 6 newsroom sparked change in their neighborhood.
"We can thank each other for being united and working together," Cantu said.
Campos credited the coverage for helping move the issue forward.
"I'm thankful to channel 6 for highlighting this story because not every news media does that," Campos said.
Blackmon echoed the importance of community participation.
"It takes citizen involvement to be successful in that," Blackmon said.
Both Campos and Blackmon summed up the collaborative effort the same way.
"It takes a village," Campos said.
"It takes a village," Blackmon said.
If you have a problem you think needs to be spotlighted, email Andrew.Bishop@kristv.com.
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