After demolishing a record number of homes in 2011, Flint's demolitions slow to a trickle
FLINT -- Genesee County demolished over 1,000 abandoned homes in 2011 through a program called the Neighborhood Stabilization Program, and it provided millions for communities with blight problems, like Flint to demolish those homes.
Now that federal money, initially part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment act, and since renewed in President Obama's Budget is running out.
Renewal of the program is stalled in Congress and has little hope of being revived until perhaps after the upcoming Presidential election.
Evelyn Hadley has lived on Flint's east side for forty years and says her neighborhood on Oklahoma St. used to be a beautiful neighborhood. Now she says she is afraid the burned out shell of a former vacant home will become the abandon home next door to her, and that if arsonists burn it then it will catch her home on fire.
"I'm afraid this one will catch fire and it's so close to mine," said Hadley.
Doug Weiland from the Genesee County Land Bank says he wants to help, but the remaining federal funds will only allow the county to tear down 50 to 100 more homes this year, a far cry from the 6,000 Weiland says they need to remove.
One home in the Oklahoma street neighborhood was labeled "CP". Weiland says that means "cut and plugged" so gas lines and electrical won't cause problems during demolition. It's dated October of 2011.
"They've been here too long and I think the city should be able to plow it down and fix up our neighborhood," said Christine Brimmagen. She says they attract crime and she says she's tired of the excuses.
