City Has Plan to Deal With Abandoned Homes In Yakima

Abandoned buildings in Yakima are dangerous fire hazards attracting homeless people and squatters, putting firefighters and police in danger, says Yakima City Code Department Manager Joe Caruso.

So Caruso has developed a plan to work with property owners to remove or rebuild 123 problem structures in the city.

"The police codes and fire department are going back to these buildings again and again," Caruso says. "We're basically spinning our wheels and what we want to do is address these buildings because they're taking up a huge amount of resources."

Caruso will talk to the City Council Tuesday about a a phased-in plan to work with landowners to try and get them to clean up restore or remove structures that have been found to be a fire or other hazard. Caruso says while the city will work with landowners the aim is to either rebuild or demolish the structures with or without the help of a landowner. The council meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall.