DETROIT – Blight is frustrating neighbors across Metro Detroit, with issues ranging from problem properties and illegal dumping to trash and overgrown lots.
Those conditions are a primary concern for the quality of life for residents.
At the corner of 8 Mile Road and Hubbard Street stands the old All Stars Lounge, a former strip club that nearby residents now call a blighted neighborhood nuisance.
“It’s just a dumping ground,” said Jeneta Pruitt.
Louie McClung, another resident, expressed disappointment.
“To see it decline like that, I just, you know, I thought they would have done something with it by now,” said McClung.
The property is surrounded by overgrown grass and weeds, with trash littering all sides.
“Look at the place. It’s time to get rid of it,” said James Glaze.
Blight is a hot topic across Detroit’s District 2 neighborhoods.
During a virtual blight task force meeting Thursday (July 3), District 2 Manager Kim Tandy asked neighbors to help identify the top blighted properties in the area.
“So, today, what we are going to do, I want to talk about the five most blighted properties in District 2,” Tandy said.
Neighbors reported overgrown alleys, vacant homes, trash, and problem properties, such as the All Stars Lounge, as major blight offenders.
Another concern is dumped tires. The district manager noted that complaints about dumped tires are frequent.
“We’re going to be working through trying to get some volunteers and some people to actually clean up at least five really big, blighted properties in our district,” Tandy said.
The goal is to be proactive, with volunteers helping to address quality-of-life and community concerns.
Neighbors across District 2 will continue the discussion next week in a meeting with inspectors from Detroit’s Buildings, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department (BSEED).
In the meantime, residents are encouraged to stay vigilant and report blighted conditions they notice in their community.