City of Salem tackles abandoned buildings

"We gotta get rid of the old stuff before we can get the new stuff in,"

Out with the old and in with the new is a turn of phrase the city of Salem is taking literally in an effort to revitalize their community.

On the city's Facebook page they posted an update of a recent abandoned home they had taken down and plans for their next project.

"We're doing three right now, all together I don't know the total, but like I said we're trying to make the community better," said city manager Ronnie Davis

Geoffrey Steele, a business owner in the area, is happy to see this project and hopes it will encourage more people to want to call their town home.

"I think that it's really good for people to realize that this is maybe a place that they would like to come and settle,"

The goal with clearing these abandoned properties is to make way for new businesses and homes

"We try to get new businesses coming and just everyone interested in wanting to be at Salem," Davis said

And as a business owner Steele says he thinks this plan has the city heading in the right direction

"I think that it's really good for business," Steele said "I think it's a small step in the direction we really need to go in,"