Another effect of tight budgets....the money to combat public nuisance properties is dwindling. Des Moines has 181 of these eyesores according to city officials, mostly in distressed areas of north-Central and East Des Moines. Vacant nuisance properties weaken values of surrounding houses and slow development. They can also become dens for drug dealers and prostitutes and targets for vandals and arsonists. Eighteen properties have been on Des Moines' public nuisance list for five to nine years. City leaders are trying to figure out a way to deal with the problem. They've said the first step is to get property owners to be more responsible.
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