Raze neighborhood blight at 222 Locust

Recently, there have been more than a few reports of crime and drug busts at the subsidized public housing dump known as "222 Locust." As a near neighbor to that building, I would be more than happy to see it go. The only thing it serves to do is depress and devalue our neighborhood.

I realize there are people living there who may not have anything to do with the crime and ugliness that has been the calling card of that place. And I'm sure decent people who live there do not want the crime to continue. But as long as that building stands, the problems will continue.

When my wife and I moved to Elgin a few years ago, we bought our house with the prospect that we were getting in on a nice little area of a city that was progressively changing the black marks of years past. We have wonderful neighbors and are encouraged by the efforts of others to rebuild and renovate some beautiful houses in the area.

But just around the corner resides what is clearly a criminal area. It makes me wonder if we acted too fast in moving here. I know removing the building and displacing people may not be the most popular idea, but in light of the criminal record there, I believe it serious enough for many people to get mad and demand some permanent and positive action.

Decent, hardworking people who care about their homes and the city of Elgin should not be made to suffer because of such a blight to the area.

Matt Szymonik

Elgin