Demolishing Houses With Stimulus Funds

Project to demolish 450 houses starts in Detroit

"The war on vacant houses in Detroit took on new force Tuesday as officials announced plans to demolish about 450 of the most dangerous structures within the next two months, and immediately tore into the first home on the list.
Crews collapsed the chimney of a two-story bungalow in northwest Detroit in a ceremonial start to the $4.5 million project backed by Wayne County and faith-based groups. It's the latest step in an aggressive effort to rid the city of thousands of vacant homes.
"It's part of the rebirth we are going through," County Executive Robert Ficano said, surrounded by other local officials and a dozen religious leaders. "These are havens for drugs and other things."
Detroit's mayor wants to tear down 10,000 vacant houses over the next four years and, with them, evict the illegal drug and weapons operations that often move in after residents move out.
The house targeted Tuesday is among several dilapidated structures along a street dotted with vacant, weedy lots, and demolition work is expected to resume later this week. The county's project is funded through federal stimulus money."