Notice the “No Cut” painted on the front. The city doesn’t want the neighbors to cut the grass. I’m guessing they’re afraid of losing federal blight reduction funding if the grass is mowed.
Lots of other decent houses in the neighborhood. If I were mayor I would encourage the neighbors to cut at least the front lawns of those houses. I would even encourage the neighbors to tear those places down if they wish with a two way waiver of responsibility. The city wouldn’t be liable if someone is hurt tearing it down and the person tearing it down isn’t responsible for back taxes. I would offer the vacant lots to retirees as part of their settlement as long as they pay taxes going forward and keep them up.
The neighbors should set them on fire right after they call the fire department. And the fire department policy should be to use the burning houses as training.
In the little southern town of my youth every so often the volunteer fire department would go over to the black part of town and burn down a vacant house. I assume they had the owner’s permission or maybe the county had taken them for back taxes. Anyway, they’d let it burn for a while. Then knock it down and get it back under control then let it start roaring again. They’d do this until there was nothing left. It was fun to watch.