Although it may not be a topic of choice in our sizzling real estate market, remnants of the housing bust and crippling recession, namely vacant, decrepit “zombie” homes, are a blight in many neighborhoods and have become magnets for vagrants, crime and pests.

Kudos to the City of St. Petersburg for taking action to demolish these eyesores. Last year 100 homes were knocked down. According to Mayor Rick Kriseman, 2015 will see even more demolitions as proof of his administration’s commitment to reduce blight.

One component of the City’s strategy is the long-term impact of making neighborhoods safer and more attractive with the hope that investors, developers and non-profits, including Habitat for Humanity will follow.