Municipality closes down 140 deserted buildings in Amman

AMMAN — The Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) said on Monday it has closed down 140 abandoned buildings in the capital after complaints from neighbourhood residents, and due to their becoming a public health hazard.

Emad Dmour, the executive director of districts at GAM, said the main reason behind leaving these houses deserted is unknown. 

“Maybe the ownership of the property is divided between several inheritors, or perhaps the owner is not in the country,” he told The Jordan Times over the phone. Dmour noted that these houses had become a public health hazard and a haven for "inappropriate behaviour", which prompted many residents nearby to complain. 

In November 2014 a reported rape attempt was said to have taken place at an abandoned building between the 4th and 5th circles in Jabal Amman.

There are over 1,000 deserted buildings in the capital, some of which provide shelter to drug dealers and users, and have been reported as scenes of sexual assaults and even murders, GAM officials have said.

The majority of the properties were built some 70 to 80 years ago. 

Asked about whether the municipality will implement any projects to take advantage of these locations for the service of the community, Dmour said there are no plans so far.  

“Such plans need financial and technical studies,” he noted. 

Dmour said the campaign to close down abandoned buildings, which started three months ago, will continue.

“We will keep monitoring abandoned houses and we will approach their owners. If we receive any complaints from residents, we will take measures to address them,” he added. 

Dmour said the municipality will give the owners of these buildings time to fix this problem and if they do not take any positive step to resolve the issue, GAM will close down the entrance of the house and charge owners for the expenses.