Some Highland Park residents say they’ve worked nearly 20 years to revamp the neighborhood — and worry their hard work could be destroyed in much less time by a single landlord who owns a few properties in the area.

But the landlord says he’s unfairly targeted because residents have a vendetta against him.

“We’ve taken back houses one at a time,” said Judith Schorr, who lives on Union Avenue in the neighborhood. “In the very beginning, in 1991, when we really started, there were 129 drug locations and houses and prostitute locations in our neighborhood. One hundred twenty-nine. Now I can count on one hand how many there are.”

But she fears those few houses could hinder efforts to rid the neighborhood completely of vices.

One house in particular, at 1900 Chamberlain Ave., seems to have its share of problems, said neighborhood resident Missy Luce, who lives across the street. Neighbors frequently call police to report what they believe to be prostitution and drug activity.

They’ve met with District 9 Councilman Peter Murphy and Mayor Ron Littlefield’s office to express concerns. She said she’ll move her family if the behavior across the street doesn’t change.

“It seems to me that the people that care don’t have the power to do anything and the people that have the power to do something don’t care,” Ms. Luce said.

Chattanooga police have responded to 1900 Chamberlain Ave. for 38 calls for service in 2008 and 32 so far in 2009, said police spokeswoman Lt. Kim Noorbergen.

Landlord John Hollingsworth acknowledges his residents aren’t perfect but says they don’t commit crimes.

“If they’re selling drugs, I’ll know that and I’ll get rid of them,” he said. “I don’t have any crime-wave people. They’re not criminals, so to speak. They’re not bad.”

Mr. Hollingsworth accuses the neighborhood residents of attempting to run him out because they want homeowners, not renters, to live in the area.

He constantly receives harassing letters telling him his place is in shambles and phone calls attempting to embarrass him, he said.

The city’s neighborhood services division said a code inspection of Mr. Hollingsworth’s property on Chamberlain still is in progress, but that the owner is making minor repairs. Mr. Hollingsworth said he’ll do anything the police and city ask him to.

“I was down there when nobody wanted them places,” he said. “I was down there before they came, when it was a demilitarized zone. They want everyone to be the way they want them to be.”

Mr. Murphy said he met with residents and requested the code inspection of the property.

He also showed residents how to look up their neighbors in the Hamilton County Criminal Court database to have a better sense of their criminal backgrounds, if they exist at all.