Demolition has begun on the abandoned Hillside Motel on Blue Parkway."The stadium is right around the corner, and everybody's got to go past it and see all of that junk, so it is about time," neighbor Duane Murff said.Officials said the area has been plagued by drug use and illegal dumping."People were just very frustrated the process took so long," said 5th District Councilwoman Alissia Canady. " When you remove blight, you open up opportunities, and that is what we are looking for -- new opportunities, new economic development to come along this corridor in the 5th District, and for residents to be happy when they go home and not have to look at an unsightly structure."Murff said he is hopeful this change will pave the way for new ideas and new development.The project to demolish the motel will cost more than $30,000. While there are no current plans for redevelopment, City Council members said there is a lot of interest in the area.

Demolition has begun on the abandoned Hillside Motel on Blue Parkway.

"The stadium is right around the corner, and everybody's got to go past it and see all of that junk, so it is about time," neighbor Duane Murff said.




Officials said the area has been plagued by drug use and illegal dumping.

"People were just very frustrated the process took so long," said 5th District Councilwoman Alissia Canady. " When you remove blight, you open up opportunities, and that is what we are looking for -- new opportunities, new economic development to come along this corridor in the 5th District, and for residents to be happy when they go home and not have to look at an unsightly structure."

Murff said he is hopeful this change will pave the way for new ideas and new development.

The project to demolish the motel will cost more than $30,000. While there are no current plans for redevelopment, City Council members said there is a lot of interest in the area.