Many things go into the look of a city or village, and one of those is the value of the property around town.

That is the focus of Ironton Mayor Rich Blankenship and the city council who look to revitalize some areas where dilapidated houses can cause property values to decrease, become havens for the unscrupulous or simply create an unsafe area for those who live around one of these houses.

The efforts of the mayor and others involved in applying and receiving a grand through the Ohio Attorney General will help the city of Ironton alleviate some of those structures.

Additionally, this could help in attracting businesses in the future because one of the factors in a decision to open a business is not always simply financial. Elements of the town overall as well as surrounding property value could weigh in the decision as well.

While it is important to receive the grants to help cover the costs, another important element is to have a quality plan in place to determine the properties that need to be demolished and in what order that works within the confines of the grant money available.

Having a plan provides with the city to get the best value.