Abandoned homes being demolished in Detroit neighborhood

Abandoned homes being demolished in Detroit neighborhood

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By Amy Lange
FOX 2 News Reporter


DETROIT -- It's a site Detroit's Morningside neighborhood hasn't seen in way too long -- abandoned homes demolished in a community that has far too many.

"At least I... can come and sit on my porch and I (don't have) to see abandoned (houses) here and there.  It's bad enough I live next to one, but hey, that's Detroit for you," said Phillip Thacker.

Thacker and Jon Smith were happy to see the demolition crews on Nottingham on the city's east side when they rolled onto the street a couple weeks ago.  Still they worry not just about dangerous, derelict properties, but about streetlights that don't work and dead trees that could be deadly in a strong storm.

Still the state project underway in this eastside neighborhood is much appreciated.

"I think it's better than just leaving it like it was.  Get all this stuff out of the way.  There (isn't) anybody using it," said Ralph Burise.

For longtime neighborhood residents like "Fish Man", who works so hard to keep up his property, there is cautious optimism in a neighborhood and a city that has seen so much struggle.

"They just got to knock down and build up.  You know, the Lord said a time to build and a time to tear down, and hopefully they'll tear it down and build it and won't just leave it," he said.

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