The 100 block of State Street in North Camden has mostly well kept houses which is why one home sticks out like a sore thumb.
It is especially upsetting to Adreiano Class who has lived there for four decades and takes pride in his home. He would like to see the houses torn down.
Camden has thousands of abandoned properties. Making a dent in getting rid of them is a priority of Mayor Dana Redd.
She met with community and faith based groups and development corporations on Thursday, and says she is committed to streamlining the process of demolishing or rehabilitating abandoned properties, a process that in the past has been all too cumbersome.
"Getting the projects completed from start to finish, and also assisting in the expedited process of development approval," says Mayor Dana Redd.
An example of the red tape has been in action, for five years, St. Anthony's Parish in Camden, has had people willing to tear down the property and build a playground for the school for free. It has not happened, although there is hope that it may happen soon.
"We want to work with the city for a comprehensive plan," says Father Jud Weiksnar, from St. Anthony's. "We believe that this is good start. We've been at it for a year, and we're ready to go."
A frustrated Henrietta Washington told the city officials about a vacant house near hers that is now rat infested. The home has been vacant for over 25 years.
"I exterminate and then I have the mice, and then I have the roaches," explained Washington.
By utilizing tools like foreclosure and eminent domain on long time abandoned buildings and getting answers to developers in 30 days, the mayor and her team hope to expedite the job of tearing down the old and putting up the new.