News 12 @11 o'clock, October 6, 2008

AUGUSTA, Ga. --- Ridding the neighborhoods of dozens of abandoned buildings and adding more deputies may be the answer to turning around the Harrisburg community. At least that's the hope of some residents.

Some of old,tattered homes are a reminder for some residents that there's so much to be done to turn around the community. But many say it is going to take the involvement of all residents to restore and revitalize.

Harry Mosely has lived in Harrisburg for more than 50 years. He says he can remember what his neighborhood "used to" look like. It is a much different picture than the one we see today.

Mosely says that's part of the reason its so hard to turn around the community. The abandoned homes are everywhere.

And that's why Rev.Kelly McKnight and others say they hope to "weed out" the bad landlords. Another idea -bring in more Richmond County deputies.

At the community meeting Commissioner Betty Beard talked about adding a substation and working closer with the Sheriff's Department to change things.

And it can't happen soon enough for Moseley.

Many are hoping that the new Salvation Army Kroc Center will help the Harrisburg community. It is one of the "new" buildings that they're hoping will change the community for the better.