Detroit Demolishing Vacant, Eyesore Schools To Boost Neighborhoods
DETROIT (WWJ) - Neighbors are celebrating as Detroit begins demolishing vacant, dilapidated schools as part of a broader effort to eliminate blighted public buildings.
A wrecking crew began taking bites out of a big one: the former Houghten Elementary School, in the area 6 Mile Road and Lahser, on Tuesday.
The school, which has been vacant since 2009, is one of four to be torn down this year at a cost of more than $2 million.
Beulah Carter, who has lived in the area for 20 years, brought her daughters and granddaughters to see the work.
"We've been waiting for this for years," she told WWJ's Stephanie Davis. "We've been participants of Wellspring (a nearby youth development center) for years, and we've been waiting for this to happen."
Dan Bandrowski, co-director of Wellspring, says it didn't make financial sense to save Houghten.
At a cost of $350,000, the demolition will be complete by May first.
The Detroit Public Schools district has closed many schools over the years amid declining enrollment, and scrappers vandalized the structures leaving eyesores in neighborhoods across the city.
The city last year demolished four and secured dozens that might be redeveloped.
"We coudn't have done it without the mayor working a deal with DPS to settle some of the debt to acquire around 77 school properties, DPS properties," explained Stephanie Young of District One, with the city's Department of Neighborhoods.
"Once we were able to get ownership of those properties, then we were able to start making some moves," she said.
Brian Farkass, with the city of Detroit, said what to do with which buildings was carefeully considered.
"And we immediately went through and said, 'What ones need to be demolished right away? Which ones can be boarded up right away?'" Farkass said. "And right now we're going through the process or working with the state of Michigan and historical preservation groups to make sure we're putting money in the right places."
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