The first of 1,600 homes in Flint fell to a backhoe today.
The Genesee County Land Bank and the Michigan State Housing Development Authority are using a $20.1 million federal grant to pay for the largest blighted home demolition program in Flint’s history.
The program is expected to eliminate a quarter of Flint’s 5,600 abandoned homes.
Flint Mayor Dayne Walling says tearing down a derelict home has a positive effect on the surrounding neighborhood.
“When dangerous houses come down, surrounding property values stabilize. Safety increases,’ says Walling.
David Hull will just be happy to see the skunks and raccoons move on. He says animals have been living in the abandoned home next to his on Barth Avenue for years.
A litter of newborn kittens had to be removed from the home before the wrecking crew brought it down.
Detroit, Grand Rapids and Saginaw are using money from the same federal grant to pay for similar large scale blight elimination projects.
