Chicago starts tear-down of abandoned buildings

CHICAGO (AP) — Wrecking crews have begun moving across Chicago to demolish abandoned buildings as part of an effort to stop gang violence in the city.

CHICAGO (AP) — Wrecking crews have begun moving across Chicago to demolish abandoned buildings as part of an effort to stop gang violence in the city.

Workers on Thursday knocked down a building in the South Side Park Manor neighborhood that has been the source of complaints by nearby residents for more than a decade. Residents claim the building was used by drug dealers.

On Monday, Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced the city’s building department will spend $4 million to make it impossible for gang members to use the buildings as a base of operations.

All the targeted buildings are either owned by private individuals, or they’re in default with a bank. City officials say that in most cases, it’s had to go to court to get authorization for a demolition.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.

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