No Broken Properties, Only Broken Owners
I’ve been amazed at our progress revitalizing the historic areas of Hattiesburg. New businesses, higher sales tax revenues, nightlife, murals, sculptures, $10s of millions of renovations – yall, Downtown is more happening now than at any point in my lifetime. But we remain leagues away from our potential.
What is stopping that next level of renaissance? Properties just like the one in the picture. Broken down, abandoned buildings attract crime and homelessness, prevent economic development, and make us sick and sad. Happy to send anyone the research who doubts it. Like cancer, blight spreads as adjacent property owners lose motivation to maintain their property with the eyesore next door.
Recently, I jotted down the first 35 addresses that I was tired of driving by as they fell apart in slow motion. I submitted a public records request to the City of Hattiesburg, asking when the last time these structures received city water services. 20 of the 35 had not had city water services in over five years. Which brings us to 505 Southern Ave.
The first area in Hattiesburg to receive historical designation was the 23-block Hattiesburg Historic Neighborhood, which is centered just south of Downtown. The 1980 application for that designation listed 505 Southern as a contributing structure, i.e. a structure that helped make the historical district what it was. Built around 1900, this “Colonial Revival” style structure is one of the oldest buildings in Hattiesburg. And it used to be beautiful.
P. W. Watson and Eartha L. Watson purchased 505 Southern in March of 1978. The family had already purchased the house next door, 501 Southern, in 1976. I have been told that 501 was used as their primary residence. The family also purchased 507 Southern in 1979 as well as several other properties nearby.
The state of Mississippi has a series of “menace” laws requiring property owners to maintain their buildings and lots. Those laws have been enforced to varying degrees by different administrations. At points in the enforcement process, the City of Hattiesburg has to file a notice that gets recorded downstairs at the Chancery Court on Main Street, leaving easily discovered public records. The first such filed reference I found for this stretch of properties was July 1990 when the City went after 507 Southern. In April 2001, the City went after 507 again as well as 505 Southern.
In other words, Hattiesburg has been trying to clean up these properties on Southern Avenue for at least 35 years. This is a problem that has existed through at least Ed Morgan’s, Johnny DuPree, and now Toby Barker’s administrations. The City of Hattiesburg does have the legal tools to deal with this issue. And Mayor Barker introduced and the City Council passed a vacant and abandoned structure ordinance a few months ago, which will give the City even more options. Attaboy, Toby.
Back to that list of 35 properties and their water service. According to the City of Hattiesburg, 505 Southern Avenue has not had water service since December of 1981, which was by far the longest. Yall. I was born in 1981. 507 Southern has not had water service since March of 2014, the year my daughter was born. She is really enjoying 5th grade now.
507 Southern Ave
Nobody looks at this house and feels proud. When I see it, I get angry. As Hattiesburgers, we deserve to live somewhere we’re proud of when our family and friends visit. A Hattiesburg where we allow this kind of problem to fester for decades is not a Hattiesburg that is dynamic enough for my children to one day want to stay and raise their own families.
I do not know what goals or aspirations the Watson family had for these buildings when they purchased them. Property taxes were $693.89 last year for 505 Southern. It seems hard to explain an “investment” case where you pay $700 a year in taxes alone for decades with nobody living there.
Look, sometimes life happens – our best intentions do not work out. Sometimes, I know there are problems that I should deal with, that they are only going to get worse, but I continue to ignore them.
Most properties like 505 Southern Ave can be saved. They can be fixed up and made beautiful contributing structures that help build up a neighborhood again. Like most of the properties on that list of 35, I offered to buy it, and the offer was not accepted. Nobody was more excited than me - I need an expensive renovation project like this about like I need another hole in my head. But if they don’t like my offer, why don’t they fix it up themselves or sell it to somebody else?
A very wise friend of mine has been teaching me that “There are no broken buildings. Just broken people who own them.” Whatever is broken with this family, they have now demonstrated over a period of many, many years that they will not deal with this blighted property willingly. They are not the only owners who have demonstrated this pattern of inaction. Not by a long shot.
Hattiesburg is going to have to insist. We as a City must finally say enough is enough and take a no tolerance approach to these situations. Not next year. Not next month. NOW.
POST SCRIPT
Should this house and others like it be demolished? Maybe. I think 505 is still salvageable, and I offered to put my money where my mouth is. But this question is putting the cart before the horse. Anytime we demolish a historic structure we should look at that as a collective failure on our part as a City. I can take you to dozens of properties across these neighborhoods that are starting to show the signs of neglect. Roof leaks, sagging beams, etc. If Code Enforcement stepped in now, they are easily (and profitably!) salvageable. If we wait 5 or 10 years to start pushing the owner, a bulldozer will be required. We all know there are 8th graders in Mississippi who sadly cannot read. We should do whatever we can to teach them now, but it is much easier to fix the issue in 1st grade instead of 8th grade. Similarly, it is cheaper and more effective to deal with blight early.
Rear of 410 Ronie, which backs up to 505 Southern Ave. Same Owners.