Keeping the demolishionists busy

[Rocko]

Thursday, October 1, 2009
Demolition blitz getting under way

Detroit to raze 365 vacant buildings

About $10 million in federal aid supports catch-up campaign

David Josar / The Detroit News

Detroit -- State officials next month will begin razing 365 vacant homes and commercial buildings in the city, the beginning of a blitz that could record the most demolitions since Dennis Archer was mayor.

"We're going to take it to a new level," said Carrie Lewand-Monroe, executive director of the Michigan Land Bank Fast Track Authority that Gov. Jennifer Granholm created in 2003. "This is our start."

Some $10 million in federal money, part of the federal plan to fight the foreclosure crisis, is spurring the effort, which includes 500 demolitions statewide. The land bank has acquired title to more than 6,700 parcels in Detroit after they remained unsold at Wayne County sales on tax-foreclosed properties.

Two months ago, red cardboard signs began appearing on rundown buildings to let owners and neighbors know the structures were targeted for destruction. One is affixed to the façade of a boarded-up two flat at Clay and Cameron near Interstate 75 and Grand Boulevard.

"Once that goes, I hope the rest of them go," said Aleisha Burns, a patron at the nearby Coney Island who lives around the corner. "Every vacant building is another place for trouble."

The state is targeting 330 homes and 35 commercial buildings. The city, meanwhile, is taking advantage of another $14 million in federal stimulus money to knock down nearly 1,600 buildings.

Together, that would be the most since Archer razed 2,250 in the 2001-2002 fiscal year.

Even so, the demolitions are a drop in the budget compared to the 78,000 structures that the U.S. Postal Service estimated in March had remained vacant for at least 90 days. That's up 20 percent from 2005.

Rita Denard, 50, who was recently laid off, said she's seen the number of vacancies increase in her north end neighborhood. Seven are slated for demolition, including a burned-out building on Bethune with a falling-down porch and a house with broken windows and doors on Mount Vernon whose water is running in the basement.
"We do need some help," she said.

The state is working with Greening of Detroit, which will try to set up community gardens and agriculture plots and possibly set up small nurseries to grow trees until they are ready for planting elsewhere.

But Monica Tabares, a spokeswoman for Greening, said funding has not come through for the large-scale projects, so the group will try to partner with local organizations to establish and maintain the gardens.

Lewand-Monroe said state contractors will remove basements during demolitions so the lots could accommodate new construction.

Other plots will be available to adjacent land owners for $100 or given to nonprofit organizations with the hope that they be used to build new homes.

Central Detroit Christian Community Development, which has opened the local produce store Peaches and Greens and also has built low-income housing, has received nine parcels from the land bank.

The group welcomes the plots, but is only able to use them for community parks and gardens. "We'd love to be able to build on them, but the economy just won't allow us to do that right now," said Lisa Johanon, the group's executive director.

Lewand-Monroe said she realizes the land bank still has its work cut out for it."This is the start of what we can do," she said. "We're hoping to take what is blight and turn it into a viable neighborhood."
djosar@detnews.com [[313) 222-2073


http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2...cant-buildings

[crawford]

This is nothing. According to the article, there are 78,000 structures, and the city has been adding nearly 5,000 vacant structures each year [[in recent years, at least).

365 demolitions will cover maybe 30 days worth of new vacant buildings.

[davewindsor]

This is nothing. According to the article, there are 78,000 structures, and the city has been adding nearly 5,000 vacant structures each year [[in recent years, at least).

365 demolitions will cover maybe 30 days worth of new vacant buildings.

Yes, but of the 5,000 each year, most of them haven't been firebombed or are not beyond hope and can be boarded up for future use.. As long as it's enough to cover some of the worst properties, it's a very good start.

[wolverine]

Yes, but of the 5,000 each year, most of them haven't been firebombed or are not beyond hope and can be boarded up for future use.. As long as it's enough to cover some of the worst properties, it's a very good start.

At the same time I need convincing evidence that those "boarded up for future use" houses will have a buyer that will have the house inhabited shortly after the sale. Otherwise it will be scrapped, neglected, and maybe burned if it sits vacant for even a few months. I wish it wasn't that way, but it is.

[softailrider]

At the same time I need convincing evidence that those "boarded up for future use" houses will have a buyer that will have the house inhabited shortly after the sale. Otherwise it will be scrapped, neglected, and maybe burned if it sits vacant for even a few months. I wish it wasn't that way, but it is.

You ain't kidding, what does " boarded up " mean? Plumbing fixtures and copper water lines and anything else worth 50 cents will be gone in a few days let alone a few months. What are you going to do- hire a 24 hour guard to watch those buildings?

[DetroitPlanner]

thank goodness. I got a couple of really bad bombed out ones on my block. Besides being unsightly, they attract kids, building miners, and street prostitutes/drug addicts. A recipie for police problems.

[Fnemecek]

Two things come to mind about this one.

First, since 100% of the funds from this come from the federal government, the City of Detroit really ought to steer clear of demolishing anything of historical significance. When federal funds are being used, there are a multitude of regulations relating to impacting anything that is historically significant.

More @ http://www.achp.gov/citizensguide.html

Second, since this is such a small portion of Detroit's overall problems, I believe it is best if the City targets one or two specific areas to concentrate their work in. It's really the only way that we'll get enough progress for us to build on.

[Rocko]

Since Federal Money will be used, Section 106 Review will be put into effect on all properties selected for potential demolition. This evaluates each property to determine if it the action [[demolition, in this case) will adversely affect any designated historic properties.

As for demolishing in certain areas, I think that if one looks at the overall map of demolitions over the past year or two, certain areas do stand out as those where demolition is being focused.