Burnt out ‘eyesore’ units in Seacombe Gardens to go

Three burnt out Housing SA units that are a blight on the local streetscape have been left untouched for more than two years - with neighbours still having to live in the same building as the destroyed flats.

Housing SA units at Seacombe Gardens, including several that were damaged in a fire two years ago, will be demolished.

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Housing SA units that have sat burnt out in Seacombe Gardens for the past two years will be demolished to make way for new housing.

A Housing SA spokeswoman confirmed the three units, along with the rest of the homes in a block on Harbrow Grove, will eventually be knocked down and a mix of new public and affordable housing built.

Neighbour Colin Sampson said the units were an “eyesore” with “trash everywhere”.

He added that the units were a frequent target for vandals and squatters.

“The fire was two years ago and since then we have seen a slow exit of the surrounding units over the past 12 months where now two out of twenty-ish in that block are lived in,” Mr Sampson said.

“Another is currently being fixed due to being trashed by a family who left one day with a giant mess spilling out to the road.”

He welcomed the news that they would be demolished but questioned why, two years after the fire, it was still not cleaned up.

These Housing SA units at Seacombe Gardens will be demolished.

The Housing SA spokeswoman said the demolition would occur once all the tenants had moved out but there was no set time frame yet.

“Tenants have been relocating from these properties since March 2019 and most have moved into other homes,” she said.

The units are a regular target for vandals.

“It can take time to relocate tenants, as each tenant has specific housing requirements depending on their family situation, preferred areas and other needs, and for suitable properties to become available.

“Housing SA has received no recent reports of squatters at Harbrow Grove but if squatters are reported, staff inspect and secure the property and contact police if necessary.”

Last month, the Messenger revealed a vacant Housing SA property in Semaphore Park had been left with piles of rubbish including children’s toys strewn out the front.