ELKHART — Vacant buildings and those damaged by fires are becoming a big problem in Elkhart. In some cases, people are just abandoning their properties. City leaders are concerned about the health and safety of many neighborhoods.

"It’s not good for the community,” said Blanche Nichols.

Nichols lives on Middlebury Street, near a house that was gutted by fire three months ago.

"I think that they should be taken care of immediately and it’s really an eyesore in the neighborhood,” she said.

It's one of six buildings damaged by fire so far this year. Fire investigators say they are many more from last year. All are magnets for trouble.

“You've got invitation for drug activity, gang activity, young small neighborhood kids that don't have anything better to do than to break in and snoop around,” said Fire Department Inspector Kent Stouder. “And that's a good way to get hurt.”

"We have to take into consideration the public health and safety of everybody in the neighborhoods,” said Building Commissioner Dennis Mann.

The city says its ultimate goal is to get the buildings repaired and renovated and put back into active use and that demolition of them is the last resort.

"The last thing we want to do is tear down a structure,” Mann said. “It’s not good for the city, it’s a base for taxes."

“There are several buildings in the city that need to be addressed, they are abandoned, they are vacant,” Stouder said. “We’ve tried to secure them as best we can.”

The city demolished seven buildings last year. Monday night, the City Council set aside $50,000 for more demolition work.