Instead of condemning the dilapidated property outright,however, the city is considering offering to buy the separate woodand concrete block structures from individual owners at anestimated aggregate value of $1.38 million or about $20,000 perresidence, brokers familiar with situation tell GlobeSt.com. Thenthe city would demolish the entire village and try to eitherrebuild it with improved housing for low-income families or use theland as part of a long-range, $1 billioncommercial/retail/residential redevelopment program planned for theentire Parramore district.

The city hasn't put a price tag on the properties yet butindividual owners say in published reports they would considerselling if the price was right and they could find improved shelterin the same general area. That is the sticking point.Comparable-price properties in the area aren't easy to find.

"You've got a situation here where the city doesn't want tocreate a public relations debacle over shelter of this kind that isalways difficult to find and fund for low-income families," RobinL. Webb, vice president/managing principal of Arvida RealtyServices Inc., tells GlobeSt.com. "The city is treadingcarefully."