VIDEO: Lakewood Leaders Flatten Blighted Homes in Tillicum

Lakewood Mayor Douglas Richardson swung the bulldozer through a known drug house, bringing it to the ground. Councilmember Jason Whalen appeared to be having fun, controlling the excavator like a teenager playing video games.

Several of the city’s government leaders took turns tearing down parts of the former drug house in Tillicum, symbolizing the rebuilding of blighted structures that attracted crime and illegal garbage dumping in the Tillicum neighborhood.

The demolishing of Woodlawn Cottages in the Tillicum neighborhood Tuesday morning was necessary to make room for new Tacoma/Pierce County Habitat for Humanity Homes. It was the first step in the revitalization of a neighborhood that has long struggled with a reputation of poverty and crime, according to long-time Tillicum resident Jim Taylor.

"This is a new beginning for the community," Taylor said. "I've lived here all my life and we've waited for this for a long time."

Five small cottage homes are set to be bulldozed by the end of the week, according to Chad Bickle, founder of GreenTech Excavation Co. Eight new, single-family townhomes will be constructed on the Woodlawn site, according to Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit working with the city to provide critical home repairs for low-income Tillicum homeowners.

"The demolition today is evidence of our mission in action," said Maureen Fife, CEO of Habitat. “We are grateful to the city of Lakewood for their faith in our work, and pleased that the mayor and City Council wanted to take this occasion to celebrate our partnership.”

In total, 30 homes will be sold by Habitat to qualified low-income individuals or families at a zero percent interest mortgage over the next five years. The new tenants will be required to provide 500 hours of sweat equity working on the construction of their home or the homes of Habitat families. Fife said Habitat is taking applications from interested homeowners.

Ellie Chambers-Grady, Lakewood’s economic development manager, said none of this would be possible without the recent . Some of these homes will be connected to the sewer line.

"It (the sewer extension project) allows for revitalized neighborhoods," Chambers-Grady said.

About Tillicum:

Lakewood’s Tillicum neighborhood has long struggled with a reputation of poverty and crime.  According to Tillicum’s Neighborhood Plan, an estimated 2,830 Tillicum residents—well over half its population—live in poverty.  The plan also states that the median income for Tillicum residents is less than $22,000, while the median income of the city of Lakewood is approximately $36,000.  Nearly 79% of the housing units in the Tillicum area are rental units.  The low rate of owner occupied houses directly relates to the neighborhood’s property maintenance and upkeep issues.