Why haven’t they demolished some of those old row houses and replaced them with decent low income housing?
Clearing out those festering rat breeding grounds couldn’t cost that much, the city could donate the land and people could either rent or buy
Cost? The cost isn't the problem. Nobody is willing to pick up a freakin' shovel or broom. Nobody...
Actually, the row house structures are awesome. A lot of quality, character and charm under all that crap. New "decent low income housing" would cost much more and the quality much worse than renovating the existing structures.
But again, it requires actual work and not just throwing money at it hoping something happens. Get Habitat for Humanity and a few other non-profit groups together and start sweeping and cleaning out, replacing roofs, rotting wood and mechanicals as needed. Knock out a block every 4 to 6 months. Then the only problem would be training the IPs on how to use trash cans, brooms and kitchen & bathroom cleaner. Oh yeah, and teach them how not to do drugs and kill each other too.
The drug gangs need those old houses to store bodies — just look for fresh, shiny nail heads holding the plywood to the openings. (Fans of “The Wire” will get this reference.)