How to destroy a block a week

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) - The noise of the bulldozer can be devilish on your ears, but for one man it sounds just as sweet as a choir of angels.

"Hallelujah," says N. Smith of the demolition going on in his neighborhood.

Now Dayton is going for two and a half "Hallelujah's" a day or whatever reaction neighbors have to seeing a dilapidated home melt away like the snow on the ground near the demolition site.

"The more of these that we get down the better off," says Kevin Powell, Acting Housing Inspection Manager.

Some extra funding from the state has made it possible for the city to go for that goal of tearing down two and a half houses a day this year.

To put it in perspective the city tore down more structures than it expected to last year, but that number, 211, still equaled out to less than one a day.

Although not all buildings are created equal. The 20-unit apartment on Niagara counts as one, but it adds up to a lot more for those living near it.

"Then the neighborhood can have discussions about how they see their future," says City Commissioner Nan Whaley. "Without that building being there they can see a future."

But on Niagara, like many other streets, it's one down, one to go.

The city is still trying to add the abandoned apartment building next door to the list.

They hope it will soon share the same fate as its neighbor.

To those living here, that sounds pretty good.

"Wasn't nothing but an eyesore," Smith says of the building. "So if they could get this one down I would be so happy."

The city hopes by using the state's demolition funds early, it will have a shot at any extra funds that other cities aren't able to use.