New money aids uphill battle in Detroit's blight fight

Around 1,000 homes taken down each year

DETRIOT – Slowly and quietly, a change is taking hold in the city of Detroit. Vacant homes are changing hands and being torn down. This trend is new, because of the city's problems with money, which lasted for decades.

There are overgrown and boarded-up houses all around Detroit. There are 75,000 empty homes, and for the city to move forward and become a great city as it was before, the blight has to be addressed. Now, times have started to change.

Detroiter Lois McCann lives on Montgomery Street.

"I've been in this city my whole life and it is something I've come to really expect," McCann said.

Detroit City Countil member Scott Benson leads the city's dangerous buildings process, which has meant little in years past. It requires an inspection and detailed look at a vacant building's ownership.

But now, with federal dollars backing the effort, some homes are coming down.

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"It didn't happen overnight that we got into this situation," Benson said. "We have so much vacant property, we won't be able to correct it overnight, either."

It's an uphill battle. They condemn around 1,000 homes per year. At that rate, it will be 2066 or later before all the empty homes have been dealt with.

More than 150 homes changed hands to the city Monday, and though seven were on Montgomery Street, there are more than seven that need to be demolished but are still standing on the block.


About the Authors:

Derick is the Lead Digital Editor for ClickOnDetroit and has been with Local 4 News since April 2013. Derick specializes in breaking news, crime and local sports.

Rod Meloni is an Emmy Award-winning Business Editor on Local 4 News and a Certified Financial Plannerâ„¢ Professional.