WARREN, Ohio - Condemned homes continue coming down in Warren as the city tries to rid neighborhoods of problem spots.

A total of $1.3 million will be spent on tearing down eye sores and knocking down condemned properties by the end of this year.

About 150 homes in Warren are currently going through the demolition process, which includes asbestos analysis and asbestos abatement.

The cost of asbestos removal averages about $8,000 to $10,000 per home according to the city health department.

Demolitions are completed in order of condition, so the worst homes go down first.

Homes that have suffered fire damage or pose possible risk to nearby neighbors are usually higher on the list.

"From the public health aspect, when we have houses like this, we're out baiting for vermin and vector and all sorts of things," says Robert Pinti, Warren deputy health commissioner.

In addition to homes going through demolition, 318 homes wait on a demolition list, while the city has a total of 414 condemned homes waiting to either be revitalized or ripped down.

However, Pinti says the city has a long way to go in terms of clearing out condemned structures.

The city matched $500,000 in grant money from the Ohio Attorney General's Moving Ohio Forward program. The city's police chief says removing the homes will help his department combat crime and keep his officers out of harms way.