SANFORD, Fla. — The Sanford Housing Authority is taking its first major step toward demolishing dozens of condemned buildings across six properties.
And Channel 9’s Bianca Castro found the agency is auctioning off a wide range of items that were at the housing projects.
Two years ago, the federal government said Sanford's public housing was so deteriorated that buildings had to be demolished.
People moved out of the buildings but nothing happened.
“I don't see anything going on with them,” said Sanford resident Moease Brooks. “It’s just a waste.”
However, the Sanford Housing Authority will now auction off hundreds of items inside the units or on property, including playgrounds, basketball hoops, railings, clothing lines and appliances.
Housing officials said they don't know what kind of money they can get for the items, but they feel it could be valuable to scrappers interested in metal.
Aluminum scrap can go for up to 65 cents a pound.
The Housing Authority will get 75 percent of the sales from the auction. The auctioneer gets the rest.
Still, no set date or funding has been identified for tearing down the complexes, which is expected to cost roughly $6 million.
The auction is scheduled for June 9, The Sanford Housing Authority is working to get grant money to cover the costs of demolition.