Following the momentum of Opportunity Clean Sweep, the city will begin aggressive enforcement of its minimum housing code.

The minimum housing code effort could complement efforts with the Main Street program, council members agreed at a retreat today.

The B-1 district already allows mixed uses, Planning and Development Director Amanda Jarratt said.

“If you had X number of people living above businesses there would be more tendency to walk down to a restaurant or bar,” Mayor Emery Doughtie said.

The effort, however, must be one that includes the uptown and downtown business districts, Councilman Ernest Bobbitt said. “It depends on the clientele,” he said. “You have apartments on the second floor where the only hanging out they do is hanging out the window to buy dope.”

Jarratt said there have been setbacks in the past with minimum housing efforts. “We’ve been beefing efforts up on minimum housing. We have sent out six letters of intent. Staff is putting a lot of effort in the process.”

Most of the houses are ones that have been in deteriorated or dilapidated states for years, she said.

One example of the new push will be the Rosemary Mill site, City Manager Paul Sabiston said. “He basically bought it out of bankruptcy to demolish and sell bricks and floors. He doesn’t have any big, long term development plans.”

Sabiston said, however, the city can “start ramping up the pressure” to clean the site. “I think he will clean it up.”

Jarratt said the city needs to be as aggressive as possible while Sabiston said it appears city council backs the plan. “I’m like go out and get them,” the city manager said. “I’m getting a good design that y’all share that.”

Said Lawson: “Go do your job. If we ignore houses it’s just a recurring problem. Let’s do what we’re supposed to do.”