The city has begun the first demolitions of abandoned houses under its safety zone initiative aimed at making areas near schools more secure.

	Tony Tye, Post-Gazette Homes are demolished in Homewood, on Fleury Way near Collier Street, yesterday, by DJ Demo. Israel Shomo of Emery Recycling prepares a load of material to be driven away. Click photo for larger image.

DJ Demo has the 21-property demolition contract, which includes nine structures on Fleury as well as 12 other properties within 1,000 feet of the Helen S. Faison Arts Academy on Tioga Street. Owner D.J. Nelson said the demolitions on Fleury should be finished by the beginning of next week.

Criminal activities and derelict properties are targets in safety zones, defined as within 1,000 feet of a public school building.

It was already a federal crime to possess or discharge a firearm, or possess or distribute narcotics, within 1,000 feet of a school when the city announced over the summer its initiative to bolster its efforts within the same zones -- specifically demolishing abandoned or blighted properties, towing junk cars and cleaning overgrown, littered lots.

The late Mayor Bob O'Connor and Pittsburgh Public Schools Superintendent Mark Roosevelt established the safety zone partnership.

Dick Skrinjar, spokesman for Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, said the initiative "goes hand in glove" with the Redd-Up campaign that Mr. O'Connor made his signature cause. Mr. Skrinjar said the city expects all 21 Homewood properties to be razed by the end of the year, with owners notified of the impending demolitions.

"This is a great first step," he said.

Yesterday, Alonzo Mills, who lives near Fleury, watched the demolition from across the street.

"I'm enjoying this," he said. "This is way past due. That row was an eyesore, and crack addicts were making it their home. Someone was squatting in one of them until last week."

The crane operator tore the facade off first, leaving the building exposed like a doll house. Inside, furnishings suggested a '70s vintage. When the crane's bucket glanced off the side of one of the last properties in the row, a mattress rose up, did a little dance and then slid down into the crashing din of bricks, mortar, wires, ceiling tiles, wallboard and billowing dust.

Mr. Mills said he has noticed an increase in the city's attention to blight in Homewood.

"I've been seeing others [demolitions], and abandoned cars are being pulled. They're getting it together," he said.

U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan said Fleury Way "has been the focus of law enforcement for many years. We've seen increased drug distribution in that area, including several indications of gang activities."

She said that for law enforcement to succeed it needs residents to be whistle-blowers for their neighborhoods.

"Often people think law enforcement already has the information," she said. "We are asking people to err on the side of telling us something we already know."

Mr. Skrinjar said the Homewood contract is one of the most aggressive blight eradications the city has undertaken in a single neighborhood this year. He said plans have not been made as to what the next safety zone neighborhood will be.