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  • Several houses, like those pictured above are being used as rental properties despite having sub-standard living conditions. LAUREN CARTER / EXPRESS-STAR

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August 18, 2012

Old structures are cancer to city

BY LAUREN CARTER The Express-Star

CHICKASHA — It is no secret Chickasha is home to many dilapidated buildings. These deteriorating structures are not only an eye sore, but often act as a safety hazard for local residents. The Community Development Department of Chickasha is the team behind addressing these structures and bringing them up to code. According to Community Development Director Cindy Deckard, the department has successfully fixed around 110 houses, but is left with over 400 to address. From doing drive by inventory checks, to getting anonymous complaints, the first step is identifying which houses are in need of extensive work.  

Each city has different codes and standards, but Chickasha focuses on water usage. If the house has been without water for at least six months, it is considered uninhabitable, as explained by Deckard. The houses that maintain vacancy for some time become bug infested, and even served as a home to a recent released jail inmate once.  

"These buildings depress the value of the neighborhood and act as a cancer. One bad building leads to another bad building,” Chickasha City Manager Steward Fairburn said.

More than an eye sore, these properties have become serious hazards. Just this year, several have caught fire and are under investigation. The dilapidated buildings in town also put a damper on future investments and go as far as depressing the city’s economic value. Fairburn explained the negative outlook these rundown buildings give to investors that may take a drive around Chickasha before they decide to build a new restaurant or store.     

“These dilapidated buildings are an invitation to trouble,” Fairburn said.

Once a property is considered dilapidated, the city alerts the owner by placing a red tag on their front door, followed by a cordial letter in the mail, in which instructions are given. Later a hearing is held, asking the resident what their plan of action is.

Deckard explained her frustration with the misconceptions she has ran into working with Chickasha residents.

“People assume the city just want to take their properties,” Deckard said. “That’s simply not the case.”

Although her work is never done, Deckard remains passionate about her department.

“My favorite thing about my job is improving people’s quality of life. I love helping the citizens of Chickasha,” she said.

She pointed out that some of the people she has encountered truly did not realize the quality of life they were living was below normal.

For now, these decaying houses, garages and rickety buildings manage to stand another day.

 

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