MODESTO-
The City of Modesto has approved a plan to renovate several historic homes that have been neglected for years, but the project could force out people who still live there.
Construction has already begun on a few of the 11 bungalows that make up Casa Blanca Court.
Al Nazmo bought the properties in June, and says the problems inside the homes were immense.
“These houses were rented room by room to drug users to come and shoot their drug and pass out there,” Nazmo told FOX40.
According to Nazmo, the homes were originally built in 1947 as transitional housing for World War II veterans, but they have since fallen into a state of disrepair.
Nazmo’s plan is to add rooms and turn the group of homes into a gated community.
“We would like to make sure that people coming here are families and family oriented people, decent professionals,” Nazmo said.
Neighbors are excited to hear that the eyesore will disappear, but Amy Merchain says her family – the final tenants – can’t afford to live anywhere else.
“It looks nice how things are being torn up and put back together but, you still got to treat the people right,” Merchain said. “That you’re going to put in it or you’re going to keep in it.”
