BOSTON -- Boston Mayor Tom Menino has a new plan for dealing with the growing number of foreclosed and abandoned properties in the city.

NewsCenter 5's Steve Lacy reported that Menino is going to start by targeting the Hendry, Coleman and Clarkson street neighborhoods in Dorchester where a number of vacant and abandoned triple-deckers which have dragged down the property values in the area and increased the risk of crime and vandalism.

"Well, there's been a lot of violence, lot of things, a lot of shootings, particularly in this area here. So, I'm not surprised that it's boarded up," resident Keisha Kane said.

"It would be a nice thing if someone could do something with these abandoned homes," Loretta Goulston said.

The mayor's new plan includes a move to seize some of them for back taxes.

"This is a cancer that we have in our city. Taking over a neighborhood. We will not tolerate this cancer," Menino said.

Last month, the city reached out to national mortgage companies to do something about the abandoned properties. He said some have promised to work with him, others have not. Abandoned properties with tax liens will be seized by the city. Menino said he will also see if the city can purchase other abandoned homes at fair market prices using any and all available city and state funding.

"I'm not going to tolerate vacant property like this in our city. We're not going to tolerate it," Menino said.

Clean-up efforts began in the neighborhood, with efforts begun to paint over graffitti. It's a long lengthy job and one that residents hope is seen to completion.

"It's good to see that he's saying he's going to do it. We just hope that he does it," Kane said.

The mayor could not venture a time table for how long it will take to reclaim the Hendry Street neighborhood but he said if it is successful it could be rolled out to other city neighborhoods.