Mount Vernon leaders are on a mission to get rid of dilapidated, abandoned homes in the city.

A home on South Ninth Avenue, a neighborhood eyesore for more than two years, was torn down Wednesday morning. The so-called zombie home is roughly one of 80 in Mount Vernon. The dilapidated houses were abandoned by homeowners facing foreclosure and neglected by banks that own the property.

At the scene of Wednesday's demolition, Mayor Richard Thomas said the goal is to remove all zombie homes across the city.

"We're looking to clean up Mount Vernon," Thomas says. "They're not safe, and we're going to come and clean it up."

Officials say at least two more zombie homes will be torn down over the next two weeks.