Just over 5,000 to go
FLINT -- A record 775 homes have been demolished in the city of Flint in the last year. It's a record according to Flint Mayor Dayne Walling. Much of it is thanks to federal funding from something called the "Neighborhood Stabilization Program". Another 300 or so homes are expected to be torn down before the end of the year, which would bring the total since 2010 to around 1000, a full 1/6 of the city's abandoned properties.
According to the Genesee County Land Bank the funding for this program will run out sometime next year, but it is a great start says Doug Weiland, the Executive Director. "It is very important," says Weiland, "the houses coming down are severely dilapidated they can't be rehabbed. They are in bad shape, they are hazardous they constantly need to be boarded up."
Weiland says in most cases the properties will not see new construction because of the city's declining population but they will be offered to neighboring homeowners for just $25. An almost unbelievable price. The program is called the "side lot program". He says it will improve the quality of life in troubled neighborhoods. "
Local resident Quincy Murphy heads up the community group Garfield-Bunche. It's one of many community groups in Flint that assists the city and the land bank in finding new uses for vacant land, and cleaning up neighborhoods. He says he sees the change. "It decreases the chances of someone being snatched into a house, or abducted or raped. It is the safety issue in a community it brings more safety for the neighbors it brings property values up by the houses being demolished."
