Atmore Home Slated For Demolition

Homeowner Carolyn Caraway studies the demolition notice on her front yard. The white sign is the latest in a string of personal setbacks.

“Well it hurts, because this is my home this is all I have, and I want to live in it, this is my home,” says Caraway. She says her home will be torn down Monday. Her minivan is crammed full of belongings from inside. She says a recent bout with cancer and a divorce has made home upkeep unmanageable and unaffordable.

“I don't have the funds to do it, all my money's gone towards my treatment, I didn't have the money, I did my best,” says Caraway. With overgrown plants and broken sheds, Caraway's home really stands out compared to others in the neighborhood. Most homes around hers on Rockaway Creek Road have clean yards, bright houses and pristine landscaping.

“As good as all the rest of it is around here and that mess back there is just bad,” says neighbor Aubrey Sellers. He has lived with Caraway's backyard facing his for more than 20 years. He says the damaged home has hurt property values and is a real eyesore. Sellers says the demolition is a solution two decades in the making with an unfortunate downside.

“Really I hate to see her lose it but she had plenty of time and she didn't do it,” says Sellers.
Caraway says she can still get the property in working order and would just need another month to do it.

“I need prayer that God'll help me, that He'll do something,” says Caraway. Caraway is living with a relative for the time being. She says she hasn't lived in the home fulltime for more than a year. At issue is how long the home has been a nuisance. Caraway says her property has only been in disrepair for a year. Neighbors say it's been a problem for more than a decade. Calls for comment from Atmore City Hall were not returned.