Contributing Writer
In 2016, the city created the Dangerous and Dilapidated (D&D) Building Program to begin addressing a number of abandoned properties. These properties were creating nuisances and eyesores in neighborhoods across the community, leading to public safety issues and more. The city borrowed money to fund the program, and that funding has been used to help tear down 24 homes to date. As we enter the fifth year of the program, I wanted to share what happens behind the scenes.
The city becomes aware of dangerous, abandoned properties in a few ways. The first is through a neighbor or concerned citizen reporting it to our code enforcement inspector by calling 641-754-5759 or filling out a form on www.marshalltown-ia.gov. The code enforcement inspector, police officers or other city staff also identify properties with tall grass, snow-covered sidewalks or other nuisance violations. Through the nuisance abatement process, we tend to learn if a property is abandoned.