Haltom City Neighbors Upset Of Property Purchase By Televangelist
HALTOM CITY (CBSDFW.COM) - There's lots of people in Haltom City who are unhappy because a local Pastor is buying up lots of properties. They want to know why he's making such purchases.
Mike Murdock is that pastor and under fire from his neighbors for buying up homes in the city.
Tuesday night citizens made those concerns known at an evening meeting at the Tarrant County College meeting room.
Just minutes into the meeting pastor Mike Murdock had heard enough and stormed out.
"I don't want to live here. I'll move out this week," says Pastor Murdock as he left.
Police hovered close to Murdock as he stopped for a couple confrontations on his way out.
Appraisal records show the televangelist and his church, The Wisdom Center, now collectively own 12 properties in Haltom City, many of which are single-family homes.
City leaders say Murdock told them he was planning to rent some of the homes or use them to house people in town for training.
Neighbors say he added tall fences, window bars, keypad entryways, and other changes they consider commercial.
Mike Thompson says the homes are several doors down from him and no longer fits in with the neighborhood.
"It's disgusting. I'm glad it's not next to me," says Thompson. "The yellow one, with the red roof, and the blue trim, and the dogs and the 8 foot security fence. It's honestly kind of a creepy feeling."
Sherri Shirley is a realtor who says she showed the house after Murdock briefly put it back on the market.
"There was massive media wiring. 4 or 5 TVs in every room. So very peculiar why someone would need 5 TV's in the master bedroom closet," says Shirley.
Neighbors say they left the meeting without many answers, but some say they'll be happy if Murdock follows through with his threat to leave town.
