SOUTH SALT LAKE — Police detective Gary Keller called it "a good day for the neighborhood" moments before demolition crews razed a former meth house Thursday.
Police officers, firefighters, health officials and neighbors say the house at 2449 S. West Temple has been a longtime problem and overall eyesore. Drugs, transients and related problems have plagued the property for years.
"It's been a nightmare. You couldn't imagine the things that's happened and the things that's going on," said neighbor Jeffery Bond.
South Salt Lake building inspector Cameron Nerdin believed that between 2002 and January of this year, police had been called to the house more than 100 times.
"You clean up the neighborhood, the crime does get better," he said, calling the demolition of the house a big day in South Salt Lake.
In January, the house was closed to occupancy due to meth contamination. Some of the former occupants used to have an active meth lab inside, Keller said. The chemicals had soaked into the walls and posed a major health concern.
"I refuse to go in there," Keller said.
In April, it was "double-red tagged," and the owners were given 60 days to respond.
Keller said the contamination from the hazardous chemicals used to produce meth was contained inside the house and neighbors should not have to worry about exposure.
The previous residents sold the property after they were given notice to either tear down the house or sell it.
Ty Thomas, the developer who bought the property, said he planned to build a couple of new houses on the land.
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