DOVER — City council on Monday unanimously approved a contract bid of $46,400 by Dependable Construction of Delaware to demolish several properties on South New Street.

The properties were previously owned by the House of Pride, a nonprofit organization that provides drug and alcohol addiction counseling and transitional housing for troubled men.

Last year House of Pride signed a contract for the transfer of four properties from the nonprofit to the city.

Ann Marie Townshend, the city’s director of planning and community development, said asbestos abatement will begin this week and then the demolition will follow.

”Our immediate plan is to maintain and manage the properties to keep them free of nuisance activities,” she said.

The properties are located at 105, 106, 110 and 115 South New Street in Dover. Two of the parcels have structures on them (105 and 115) and the other two are vacant lots.

The Downtown Dover Partnership purchased 111 South New Street, which is situated between the two properties purchased by the City of Dover.

Altogether, $32,200 will be paid by the City of Dover and $14,200 of it will be paid by the DDP.

“This does not include the asbestos abatement and oversight costs, which are approximately $20,000 over this amount,” Ms. Townshend said.

“The demolition costs for 111 S. New Street will be paid by the Downtown Dover Partnership. The demolition costs for 105 and 115 S. New Street will be paid by the City of Dover.”

The properties have been the location of various nuisance activities and have drawn a disproportionate amount of police responses.

The two houses, one that serves as the main office for House of Pride at 105 S. New St., and the other an apartment building with four units at 115 S. New St., have an assessed value of about $237,000.

Marion Lott, executive director of House of Pride in an interview from last year, said the deal to transfer some properties to the city of Dover will put the organization on a more solid financial footing.

Ms. Townshend said the purchase and demolition of these structures is part of a long-term strategy to improve the area.

These properties have been frequent hot spots of nuisance behaviors and have drawn a lot of complaints,” Ms. Townshend said.

“The City will work with the Downtown Dover Partnership and other community partners to ensure that the long-term redevelopment of these properties is consistent with the Restoring Central Dover Plan.”

The Restoring Central Dover Initiative is led by NCALL with a steering committee made up of stakeholders throughout the community.

The plan represents the community’s vision for vitality in the downtown area, which includes economic development, increasing homeownership, and keeping neighborhoods safe.