WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Police in the north end are still investigating two recent arsons in the Northwood area. The fires are a setback for area residents who logged and took photos of the 121 boarded up homes in the area with the hopes of having the homes rehabilitated. The fire Saturday on 47th Street makes 122 boarded up homes.
“What happens with these structures is when they get burned out like this they get demolished,” explained Northwood resident Carl Flick.
But that process can sometimes take years. Andrew Pereira has lived in the area for 14 years and has seen it firsthand demolition can be delayed months, or longer.
“I remember there was a fire on 30th...on 40th street I think it was,” Pereira recalled. “That house has been sitting there for years already. It looks like there were rebuilding the house and all of the sudden it's just boarded up. I have the feeling these other houses are going to be the same way.”
This abandoned house, still has a city permit in the window from 2012. Another challenge for those trying to fix up the north end. Flick says it has to change.
“We're in the process of trying to get people to notice Northwood as a good value and here we have a house that has just been recently burned,” Flick said. “We're working very hard in order to get the neighborhood rehabilitated. Its' very unfortunate when something like this happens because it goes counter to all of our efforts.”
Another fire in the 800 block of 32nd is also under investigation. Police say the fires are not related.
