By: Quana Frasier:
Journalist, Civic Media Specialist "The Pen of the Pee Dee"
Pee Dee Ink is a civic media platform amplifying real stories from Florence, SC. The Pen of the Pee Dee belongs to the people.✒
A Strange Sight in Florence, SC
On Saturday, August 23, 2025, a Florence resident who wishes to remain anonymous reported seeing a strange man entering a vacant home near Ingram & Chase Street in Florence, SC. According to the resident, no one currently lives in the home, yet the doors remain unlocked, and a broken window sits wide open, making the property an easy target for loitering, robbery, or worse.
Adding to the concern, a “No Trespassing” sign sits posted, but with no real enforcement, it does little to deter intruders.
The Neglected Property Problem
The home, with overgrown grass, scattered trash, and even an abandoned chair in the yard, has become a painful reminder of what happens when property owners neglect vacant houses. Florence residents point out that once occupants move out, it becomes the owner’s responsibility to secure the property: yet too often these houses are left unmonitored, creating blight across neighborhoods.
Just weeks earlier, neighbors noticed a homeless man loitering around the same property. For many residents, this is not just an isolated issue it’s part of a much larger problem in Florence.
Why Abandoned Homes Hurt Florence Communities
When abandoned homes and vacant properties are ignored, the ripple effects are felt across the community:
- 🏚 Increased Crime: Vacant houses become easy shelters for loitering, drug activity, and theft.
- 🌱 Overgrown Grass & Neglect: Tall weeds and trash signal abandonment, lowering neighborhood pride and property values.
- 🏘 Neighborhood Safety Concerns: Families feel unsafe knowing strangers can freely enter unsecured properties.
- 💸 Lower Property Values: Abandoned homes drive down nearby home prices, affecting hardworking Florence residents.
- 🚓 Strain on City Resources: Police, code enforcement, and city officials are called repeatedly to the same neglected areas.
A Call for Stronger Action in Florence, SC
Florence residents are demanding that city officials tighten property maintenance laws and enforce stricter code enforcement policies for vacant houses. Residents argue that property owners must be held accountable when their homes are left unsecured and trash filled, dragging down the surrounding community.
This is not just one home near Ingram & Chase Street. Similar issues are being reported in areas near Calhoun Drive and beyond. Florence can no longer afford to look the other way.
What Can Be Done?
- 🔒 Enforce laws that require property owners to secure doors and windows on vacant houses.
- ✂ Demand timely property maintenance to keep grass cut and trash removed.
- 🚨 Increase penalties for property owners who neglect their vacant properties.
- 📢 Encourage Florence residents to speak out and report neglected properties to city officials.
The Bigger Picture for Florence, SC
This story highlights more than just one home, it shines a spotlight on a growing issue that threatens the safety, property values, and appearance of entire neighborhoods. When abandoned homes are ignored, entire communities suffer.
📌 Have you noticed abandoned or neglected properties in your Florence neighborhood? Share your experience with Pee Dee Ink. We are amplifying the voices of Florence residents.
Quana Frasier | 📍 Florence, SC
Reporter | Journalist | Civic Media Specialist | Founder of Pee Dee Ink 💼
["The Pen of the Pee Dee"] Pee Dee Ink is a civic media platform amplifying real stories from Florence, SC. The Pen of the Pee Dee belongs to the people. ✒📬 info@peedeeink.com📣 Stay connected on Facebook: @PeeDeeInk & Instagram: @quanafrasier
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