HOUSTON – A coalition of residents and business owners from Houston's near northwest side converged on city hall on Tuesday in hopes of getting the city’s support in tearing down two large abandoned condominium complexes.  They claim these two units are destroying their neighborhood by attracting drug users and squatters.

Tom Miller, the owner of Hollyview Apartments in near Northwest Houston, is one of the business owners fighting to clean up the neighborhood.

“I think, the one thing that's critical is that you have a safe and secure place for people to live,” said Miller.

Miller truly believed this concept and has invested more than $2 million fixing up his 328 unit complex.  But all his work did not bring the comfort he expected.

“You put all of this work into the place, and two blocks over, it's a war zone.  It's complete blight.  Absolute, complete blight,” said Miller.

Miller is referring to the Candlewood Glen and Candlelight Trails condominiums on one side of his building and the Gables Apartment complex on the other side.  Candlewood Glen and Candlelight Trails are mostly abandoned, while the Gables Apartments recently vacated their residents due to safety violations. 

While Miller is offering a gated safe haven from the surroundings, complete with security cameras and off duty HPD officers on site, his occupancy rate is just 70 percent.

"We can't get more residents in because they're afraid of the neighborhood,” said Miller. “I’m losing $20,000 to $30,000 a month.”

Miller is not alone in his fight.  A group of business owners, apartment owners and residents have banned together, not to change the world, but to change their corner of it.  It’s a struggle, but a battle they hope they will eventually win.