Bryan sent in this scene this morning from the site of former DeKalb Hooper Alexander Elementary School on Memorial Drive, which borders the Midway Woods neighborhood to the north.  (MAP)

DeKalb County recently tore down three vacant elementary schools around the county and plans to return them to greenspace before deciding what to do with the property, according to Crossroads News.

Back in 2012, a local resident wrote in to DM to ask for help regarding “criminal activity” at the vacant school and in January of this year there was a major fire in the building.

A concern resident writes in…

I would like to “educate” the community on the current status of one of DeKalb county’s abandoned, and forgotten, schools. That school is Hooper Alexander Elementary, a former school of the arts, located on Memorial Drive. The school backs up to the Midway Woods neighborhood.

Some of the activity that I have witnessed at the abandoned school is quite frankly shocking. Criminal activities have inflicted thousands upon thousands of dollars of damage to the school. Due to its vacancy the school has also become a “headquarter” for criminal activity. My residence has been burglarized twice during the past year, including [in late July]. The criminals drive down the street looking for driveways free of cars, then proceed to the school to park. They then jump the school’s fence in order to gain access into our residences, and leave as they entered after burglarizing our homes. I have contacted the county, but have yet to receive a reply. My hope is that your forum can provide my neighborhood with suggestions/advice about how to encourage DeKalb County to take action regarding this property. Please find attached a few recent photos of the former school.

Thanks for your help.