What is Blight — and Why Should You Care?
You’ve probably seen it before — a house sitting empty for years, windows boarded up, the lawn overgrown, and trash piling up on the lot. Maybe it’s on your street, or just around the corner. That property isn’t just an eyesore. It’s a blighted property, and its impact reaches far beyond what you can see from the sidewalk.
Blight refers to properties that have become vacant, abandoned, fire-damaged, or severely deteriorated. Left unaddressed, these properties don’t just sit quietly — they actively drag down the communities around them.
The Real Cost of Blight on Your Neighborhood
Blight doesn’t just affect one property. It creates a ripple effect that touches every resident, homeowner, and business in the surrounding area.
Declining Property Values Studies consistently show that vacant and blighted properties lower the value of nearby homes. When a property falls into disrepair, it signals neglect — and that signal spreads. Homeowners who have invested in their properties can find their home values dropping simply because of what’s happening next door.
Public Safety Concerns Abandoned properties attract illegal activity. From illegal dumping and vandalism to more serious criminal activity, blighted properties create safety risks for neighbors, children, and the broader community. Fire-damaged structures are especially dangerous, posing structural hazards for anyone who enters — including first responders.
Strain on Local Resources Blighted properties often require repeated attention from code enforcement, law enforcement, and fire departments. These are public resources that could be better spent elsewhere if the root problem — the vacant property itself — were addressed.
Community Morale Perhaps the most underappreciated impact of blight is psychological. When residents see persistent neglect in their neighborhood, it affects how they feel about where they live. It can reduce community pride, discourage investment, and make people feel that their neighborhood has been forgotten.
What DRLBA is Doing About It
The DeKalb Regional Land Bank Authority was created specifically to tackle these challenges head-on. Our mission is to return vacant, blighted, and tax-delinquent properties to productive use — transforming liabilities into community assets.
Here’s how we’re making it happen:
Property Acquisition DRLBA actively monitors and acquires vacant and tax-delinquent properties across DeKalb County. By taking ownership of these properties, we stop the cycle of neglect and open the door to revitalization. Our team attends DeKalb County Tax Sales to identify acquisition opportunities that can make the biggest community impact.
Blight Demolition Some properties are too far gone to be rehabilitated. In these cases, DRLBA works with DeKalb County officials and community partners to safely demolish dangerous structures. In April 2026 alone, DRLBA coordinated the demolition of fire-damaged properties in Stone Mountain and Lithonia — removing safety hazards and clearing the way for future redevelopment.
Strategic Partnerships No organization can solve blight alone. DRLBA partners with organizations like ANDP (Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership) and Habitat for Humanity to ensure that once properties are acquired and cleared, they are redeveloped in ways that truly benefit the community — whether through affordable housing, green space, or community facilities.
Equitable Redevelopment DRLBA is committed to ensuring that redevelopment serves the existing community — not just outside investors. Our goal is to create pathways to homeownership, support local developers, and strengthen DeKalb County neighborhoods from within.
You Have a Role to Play Too
Community members are our most important partners. Here’s how you can help:
- Report blighted properties in your neighborhood to DeKalb County code enforcement.
- Avoid illegal dumping on vacant lots — it deepens the problem and makes cleanup
harder. - Stay informed about DRLBA programs and opportunities by following our social media and newsletter.
- Get involved by attending public meetings and sharing your voice on what redevelopment should look like in your community.
The Bottom Line
Blight is a serious challenge — but it is not inevitable. With the right tools, partnerships, and community commitment, vacant and blighted properties can become vibrant parts of DeKalb County once again.
At DRLBA, we show up every day to do exactly that. One property at a time, we are building a
stronger, safer, and more equitable DeKalb County.