Prattville mayor addresses concerns over condemned house

Prattville Mayor Bill Gillespie is taking time to address rumors on social media regarding a condemned house.

He said code enforcement workers noticed the house in April, and it was recently condemned.

Gillespie says there has been a lot of public outcry over the property and the Robinson family who owns it, with people speaking out both in a positive, but also a hurtful way, without understanding what’s going on.

Gillespie says he fears it’s tearing the fabric of the community apart.

“In this matter there has been an abundance of misunderstanding and spreading of rumors on social media, so I want to take a moment to address those as well,” Gillespie said at the news conference.

“First and foremost, the Robinsons do not live in the structure at issue, nor has anyone else resided there for several years. Second, the city is not seizing or condemning the property for public use. I want to repeat that the city is not seizing or condemning the property for public use.

“As I stated from the beginning, addressing dilapidated structures is a process instituted upon the city by the state legislature for citizens’ health, safety and well-being. The property remains with the Robinsons and will remain with the Robinsons throughout this process. Third, there has been no final decision regarding this process as there are still many steps to go.”

The house is located at 106 Seventh Street.