Normally, destruction of property is not something to be heralded — especially around the holidays.

Usually, our society celebrates the building of new things, but not the tearing down of old things.

That’s especially true in Natchez, a city in which the preservation of our history remains the most viable outlook for the future.

The line between what should be saved and what should be torn down can be thin, indeed.

Our hats off, however, to the City of Natchez’s mayor and board of alderman for continuing their work to clean up some of the city’s blighted areas.

In particular, last week the aldermen signed off on plans to demolish six more dilapidated houses.

Each of the structures appears to be a nuisance property and complete removal may be the only viable option to remedy the situation.

But beyond the demolition on the horizon, the city has begun taking seriously the matter of property owners not maintaining their properties, too.

To that end the city has authorized the public works department to begin clearing grass and weeds at more than a dozen unkempt houses in the city.

That dogged determination to clean up the city is long overdue.

And, although it may seem counterintuitive to celebrate destruction, we’re thankful the city is finally coming through on its plans to help clean up some neighborhoods.