State Joins Blight Fight

**dmike76** · August-26-13, 02:48 PM

One would think they could knock down a lot of blighted homes with $52 million bucks.

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2...text|FRONTPAGE

**Detroitnerd** · August-26-13, 03:49 PM

Originally Posted by dmike76

One would think they could knock down a lot of blighted homes with $52 million bucks.

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2...text|FRONTPAGE

Isn't that the money that was supposed to go to underwater homeowners? Now it's going to Adamo & Co.?

**Danny** · August-26-13, 05:16 PM

This better work. Detroiters are sick and tired of looking at abandon buildings in the ghettohoods. A hiding plance for DEAD [[c)KRAK HEADS, rapists, drug dealers, squatters and other crazy folks. The last blight busting in Detroit's ghettohoods took place since mid 1960s to late 1970s most of the homes in the lower east and west side were demolish immediately after the home either burned down or not for sale.

**Wesley Mouch** · August-26-13, 06:31 PM

Originally Posted by Danny

This better work. Detroiters are sick and tired of looking at abandon buildings in the ghettohoods. A hiding plance for DEAD [[c)KRAK HEADS, rapists, drug dealers, squatters and other crazy folks. The last blight busting in Detroit's ghettohoods took place since mid 1960s to late 1970s most of the homes in the lower east and west side were demolish immediately after the home either burned down or not for sale.

Detroiters should try being 'sick and tired' of the fools they elect. There's no problem in Detroit that couldn't be solved if we stop doing the same stupid things over and over. But we resist change. We resist help.

**mjb3** · August-26-13, 05:37 PM

Archer administration tore down close to 20,000 structures during two terms. At appr $30K per demolition, this $52m will only cover about 1500, 2% of total 80,000 abandoned structures. That math is a bitch. If only they had started tearing down houses in the early 70's, 500 houses per yr.

**aj3647** · August-26-13, 06:04 PM

Originally Posted by mjb3

Archer administration tore down close to 20,000 structures during two terms. At appr $30K per demolition

What's your source for this "30K per demolition" number?

And didn't a lot of those demolition contracts go to Bobby Ferguson? With the state administering the funds instead of the city, you can subtract the usual hefty Detroit corruption markup from the cost.

**mwilbert** · August-26-13, 07:11 PM

Originally Posted by aj3647

What's your source for this "30K per demolition" number?

And didn't a lot of those demolition contracts go to Bobby Ferguson? With the state administering the funds instead of the city, you can subtract the usual hefty Detroit corruption markup from the cost.

A recent article in the Free Press said that the average Detroit demolition was about $10,000.

**DetroitPlanner** · August-26-13, 07:17 PM

Originally Posted by mwilbert

A recent article in the Free Press said that the average Detroit demolition was about $10,000.

That is more accurate with bigger homes costing more like $15k. Most big homes are still in good shape in relative terms.

**Detroitnerd** · August-26-13, 07:46 PM

It's more expensive to tear down a house that's in good shape? I'm getting dizzy ...

**mjb3** · August-26-13, 08:30 PM

The $30K may have been the rule for houses w bsmt that had to be removed and hauled away. Until recently. I believe they now can shovel debris into basement and mound over. This might make the $10-15K more realistic. In that case, the $52m will cover 3500 houses. Still a long way to get the city looking ruin-free...

**iheartthed** · August-27-13, 10:37 AM

Originally Posted by mjb3

The $30K may have been the rule for houses w bsmt that had to be removed and hauled away. Until recently. I believe they now can shovel debris into basement and mound over. This might make the $10-15K more realistic. In that case, the $52m will cover 3500 houses. Still a long way to get the city looking ruin-free...

Yeah, the city will be a ruin-free 130 square mile prairie. Then the development and population will come rushing back...

**mwilbert** · August-27-13, 10:47 AM

Originally Posted by iheartthed

Yeah, the city will be a ruin-free 130 square mile prairie. Then the development and population will come rushing back...

The sad thing is that it would. It isn't as if people who don't like Detroit have an aversion to the underlying land. They have an aversion to what's on top of the land. If you cleared most of Detroit, it would be like any exurban prairie. I admit there are some brownfield issues, but that would probably be largely offset by the better location.

**begingri** · August-26-13, 08:53 PM

http://www.freep.com/article/2013082...lition-Detroit

About 4,000 homes coming down. $52 million / 4,000 = $13,000 per home.

**Hypestyles** · August-26-13, 09:18 PM

I don't suppose there's money to hired local Detroit folks who are unemployed to help out in this? Unskilled, semi-skilled folks, ex-offenders, etc.

**sumas** · August-26-13, 09:53 PM

Originally Posted by Hypestyles

I don't suppose there's money to hired local Detroit folks who are unemployed to help out in this? Unskilled, semi-skilled folks, ex-offenders, etc.

There are so many orgs trying to do just that.

Sometimes I amaze my self, we have a rather large townhouse community that wraps around the corner at the end of our block. It was auctioned to out of staters, back taxes. It is now derelict. People were prowling around. It is a serious eye sore.

Neighbors call me about this, go investigate! I am a gutless wonder but I did go down. No business cards, nothing, they claimed they were looking to invest in it. Now I think my neighbors have less guts then me. This is the third call I got this month to investigate odd stuff. Two calls from guys. I love my neighborhood but sending an old lady to do detective work is a bit stale. I guess I am expendable

**illwill** · August-26-13, 09:57 PM

We thought alike.

**sumas** · August-26-13, 10:11 PM

I participate as a volunteer For Detroit Eviction Defense. They meet at St John St luke on Thursdays at 6 pm. They address these issues and are quite militant about getting funds to keep people in their homes. They are quite effective, legal folk and very organized and vocal. Amazing group really!

**wolverine** · August-26-13, 11:28 PM

Originally Posted by Hypestyles

I don't suppose there's money to hired local Detroit folks who are unemployed to help out in this? Unskilled, semi-skilled folks, ex-offenders, etc.

In some cities that's a requirement. If you want to build or demolish this building with public money, the teams involved must hire a certain number of residents from that neighborhood for the job. Can't do it, can't bid.

**Lily** · August-27-13, 11:06 PM

Originally Posted by begingri

http://www.freep.com/article/2013082...lition-Detroit

About 4,000 homes coming down. $52 million / 4,000 = $13,000 per home.

52 million to demolish 4000 homes. How can this be possible?

**Novine** · August-26-13, 09:38 PM

$50 million would go a long way to build up a viable neighborhood. Or keep people in their homes. Instead, Michigan and Detroit take the approach of building the city through demolition.

**royce** · August-27-13, 02:07 AM

Originally Posted by Novine

$50 million would go a long way to build up a viable neighborhood. Or keep people in their homes. Instead, Michigan and Detroit take the approach of building the city through demolition.

Novine, you expressed this same sentiment in the Brightmoor thread. Helping people stay in their homes is altruistic. However, how does the state get back the money that it gives to homeowners in trouble? I'm curious as to how this works.

**sumas** · August-27-13, 07:26 AM

The money actually comes from the feds. If qualified they have to live in their homes another five years and the debt gets forgiven. If they move the debt comes due. Because of infighting with the state, Wayne County and the city, it is rare people qualify.

**aj3647** · August-27-13, 09:43 AM

Originally Posted by sumas

The money actually comes from the feds. If qualified they have to live in their homes another five years and the debt gets forgiven. If they move the debt comes due. Because of infighting with the state, Wayne County and the city, it is rare people qualify.

So spend $50 million to get exactly five years of "neighborhood stability." Five years, and then people can jump ship without their mortgage debt hanging over their heads. And I'd imagine quite a few people would jump ship, what with being surrounded by abandoned houses that nobody is doing anything about... By 2018, we'd be back to square one after applying a $50 million band-aid.

**DetroitPlanner** · August-27-13, 10:42 AM

Originally Posted by aj3647

So spend $50 million to get exactly five years of "neighborhood stability." Five years, and then people can jump ship without their mortgage debt hanging over their heads. And I'd imagine quite a few people would jump ship, what with being surrounded by abandoned houses that nobody is doing anything about... By 2018, we'd be back to square one after applying a $50 million band-aid.

Abandoned homes cause a huge amount of damage besides housing values. Ask any cop or fireman if he would want these addressed from their professional perspective. They will answer "Heck yeah!" Imagine having to live next to one and not knowing that if a firebug or a drug dealer was going to take it over. They rid the areas of crime as the criminals have less places to hide. It is not a 5-year cycle, but a quality of life issue with immediate benefits.

**iheartthed** · August-27-13, 10:36 AM

Originally Posted by royce

Novine, you expressed this same sentiment in the Brightmoor thread. Helping people stay in their homes is altruistic. However, how does the state get back the money that it gives to homeowners in trouble? I'm curious as to how this works.

How much does the state get back for a house they pay to have demolished?