As a newer resident of Sussex County from Duck, N.C., in the Outer Banks, my family has found much to appreciate about Sussex County, particularly the beaches and beach towns.
However, I have to ask: Why are there so many empty, ramshackle homes and chicken farm properties allowed to stand frozen in time when they are obviously uninhabited and/or abandoned? In particular, the Selbyville and Frankford area has several dozen abandoned chicken farms with roofs caving in, plastic sheets rippling in the breeze, vegetation growing through holes in the roof, and more.
These properties belong to someone, but these abandoned structures are dangerous, fire-prone, breeding grounds for rodents and, quite frankly, visually embarrassing to visitors and residents of our county. What is the responsibility of the property owner of abandoned property to remove and/or dismantle such structures? If there are no specific laws in place, county managers should develop a process that would force property owners to eliminate this structural and visual blight in a region of many wonderful and scenic areas.
On drives and road trips through Sussex County, my children constantly ask us: “Why are these properties allowed to be here looking this way. It’s ugly.”
It certainly is.
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