South Texas City Tears Down Buildings to Improve Look

A South Texas city’s effort to improve its look has led to the tearing down or sprucing up of about 200 structures.

The Harlingen City Commission received an update Wednesday on the two-year campaign.

City Attorney Roxann Pais Cotroneo offered a slide show of nearly 60 structures demolished or rebuilt since September.

The Valley Morning Star reports city code inspectors have put pressure on property owners. Cotroneo says the city takes legal steps to condemn properties if owners don’t act to improve the locations.

She says 169 buildings have been taken down by the city. About 30 more were torn down by Texas National Guard soldiers during the cleanup effort.