© 2024 MICHIGAN PUBLIC
91.7 Ann Arbor/Detroit 104.1 Grand Rapids 91.3 Port Huron 89.7 Lansing 91.1 Flint
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Jackson tearing down derelict homes

The city of Jackson is accelerating its home demolition program.

The city has torn down 31 homes during the past seven months.

Jackson mayor Martin Griffin says he's got the resources to do more, at a faster pace.

“Some of them that are bank-owned the banks are stepping up to the plate and giving us the money to take them down. We’re using are federal block grant money to take them down. This year…it’s over $500 thousand,” says Griffin.  “We’re hoping to bid them as packages…packages of 8…we’ll save even more money and get more bang for our buck.”

The city estimates it would cost more than 50 million dollars to rehab the more than 800 homes on the demolition list.

It will cost less than ten million dollars to tear down that same number of buildings.

Steve Carmody has been a reporter for Michigan Public since 2005. Steve previously worked at public radio and television stations in Florida, Oklahoma and Kentucky, and also has extensive experience in commercial broadcasting.
Related Content