DeKalb County officials demolish long-blighted property, pledge faster abatements and lien sales

DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran Johnson joined county commissioners and staff at the site behind them to mark the demolition of a long-blighted structure and to outline a more aggressive approach to removing derelict properties.

"No longer will we tolerate blight in DeKalb County," Johnson said, announcing that the county has demolished 181 properties since 2019 and that "today, I am proud to say this is property number 182." She said the county has abated 257 additional properties, for a combined total of 438 units now addressed through demolition or abatement actions.

Johnson framed the demolition at 2624 Old Wesley Chapel Road as both "true progress" and a promise kept to South DeKalb residents. She said the county is changing its code-compliance model from reactive to proactive, extending enforcement hours to reach violations that occur after hours, increasing staff and funding, and deploying initiatives including Operation Safe Streets, Operation Clean Streets and a multifamily task force to bring multifamily units into compliance.

"We will place liens against your property," Johnson said, adding that DeKalb County does not retain financial benefit from liens and that the county intends to sell liens to recover taxpayer funds invested in demolition so that money can be reinvested in further abatement work.

District 3 Commissioner Nicole Messiah said the demolition opens the door to revitalization in her district and that removing the structure will make nearby streets safer and encourage investment. "We all deserve to live in dignity, in peace, and in progress," Messiah said.

District 7 Commissioner Ladina Bolton praised the cooperative work of code compliance, the judiciary and county staff, and warned property owners who ignore citations and court directives that the county would "no longer tolerate" neglect. Bolton echoed the CEO's statement that property owners will be held financially responsible for demolition costs.

Nicole, owner of Randolph's Early Learning Academy adjacent to the site, thanked leaders and said the removal improves safety for the families she serves. "This change is much needed," she said.

Code Compliance Director Tonja Clark described the multi-year enforcement process that led to the court-ordered demolition, saying it followed "years of warning notices, citations [and] final notices of violations." Clark credited collaboration with the planning and sustainability department, the law department and the courts for appraisal, testimony and the demolition order. She said the community development department carried the action to completion and that code officers will continue abatements, boarding and grass-cutting actions as part of ongoing enforcement.

The officials did not announce a date for redevelopment of the parcel. No formal vote or ordinance was recorded at the event; speakers described judicial demolition orders and administrative and court processes that led to the action. County leaders said they will continue to move additional properties through the judicial abatement process and use recovered lien funds to support further demolitions and reinvestment.

About the site: county officials identified the address for this demolition as 2624 Old Wesley Chapel Road in South DeKalb. Quantities and program names above reflect figures and initiatives stated by DeKalb County officials at the event; the county attributed the demolition decision to a court order following the code-enforcement and legal process.