SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) _ The city of South Bend is nearing its goal of addressing 1,000 vacant and abandoned houses in 1,000 days.

The South Bend Tribune (http://bit.ly/1V9G1Zy) reports 512 houses have been taken down over the past two-plus years and 378 homes have been repaired. Another 126 houses are contracted for demolition.

South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg says he expects most of the houses under contract will get torn down before the late November deadline for the city to meet its goal.

Buttigieg announced the goal in 2013, and he estimated Monday there are about 300 vacant and abandoned houses left in South Bend. He says about $10 million was spent on the initiative, including roughly $1.5 million in federal funds.

Critics of the effort have said it didn't focus enough on repair, and that the city hasn't maintained vacant lots well.