A house on Cliff Street before it was demolished recently.

After years of sitting vacant and posing safety concerns, three long-neglected properties were finally demolished this past week in Sistersville, marking the beginning of a long-awaited citywide cleanup initiative.

The properties at 127 Cliff Street, 119 Russell Avenue and 120 Virginia St. were demolished and removed. by Raze Demolition and Klug Excavation. These demolitions are the first in a series targeting five unsafe and abandoned structures across the city.

City officials say the project aims to improve neighborhood safety and clear the way for future redevelopment.

“This is a major step forward in addressing blight and revitalizing our neighborhoods,” said Mayor Bill Rice.

The remaining properties slated for demolition are expected to come down in the coming weeks. They are 294 North Wells St and 112 McKinley Ave.