Detroit's Demolition Effort Under Fire as Land Bank Inventory Dwindles.
The city of Detroit has made significant strides in its effort to clear out abandoned homes since Mayor Mike Duggan took office in 2014. Over the past decade, the city has demolished approximately 27,000 vacant houses and sold another 19,000 for renovation, exceeding the initial targets set by the city.
In 2014, Detroit's land bank authority had an estimated 47,000 abandoned homes under its control. However, this number has dwindled to just 942 as of this month, according to a final report released by Duggan ahead of the closeout of Proposal N, a voter-approved bond program that funded the second phase of demolitions.
While the city has made significant progress in clearing out vacant properties, an ongoing environmental cleanup effort is now tied to the final closeout of Proposal N. Contaminated soil used at some demolition sites has raised concerns, and officials are working with environmental consulting firm Mannik & Smith Group to test every site where contaminated soil is suspected.
According to Duggan, 240 of the remaining homes are slated for demolition within the next six months, while 702 are expected to be sold to buyers willing to renovate them in 2026. The city has set aside $15 million in Proposal N closeout funds to address soil remediation, making it unlikely that the cleanup will affect Detroit's finances.
Despite the challenges, Duggan says the effort is one of his administration's most satisfying accomplishments. "Homeowners who stayed in Detroit and never left were the ones who gained the most wealth," he said. A University of Michigan study released earlier this year found that Detroit homeowners gained a total $4.6 billion in home equity between 2014 and 2023, with appreciation recorded in every neighborhood.
However, the investigation into Iron Horse's operations is ongoing, and contractors who intentionally used unapproved soil sources may face fraud charges. The state Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) is overseeing the investigation, which has intensified this year after investigators determined that contaminated soil may have been used at dozens of residential demolition sites.
While the city continues to make progress in its effort to clear out vacant properties, the ongoing environmental cleanup effort raises questions about the effectiveness of the city's approach. As the final closeout of Proposal N nears, officials must ensure that the cleanup is thorough and that responsible contractors are held accountable for their actions.
The city of Detroit has made significant strides in its effort to clear out abandoned homes since Mayor Mike Duggan took office in 2014. Over the past decade, the city has demolished approximately 27,000 vacant houses and sold another 19,000 for renovation, exceeding the initial targets set by the city.
In 2014, Detroit's land bank authority had an estimated 47,000 abandoned homes under its control. However, this number has dwindled to just 942 as of this month, according to a final report released by Duggan ahead of the closeout of Proposal N, a voter-approved bond program that funded the second phase of demolitions.
While the city has made significant progress in clearing out vacant properties, an ongoing environmental cleanup effort is now tied to the final closeout of Proposal N. Contaminated soil used at some demolition sites has raised concerns, and officials are working with environmental consulting firm Mannik & Smith Group to test every site where contaminated soil is suspected.
According to Duggan, 240 of the remaining homes are slated for demolition within the next six months, while 702 are expected to be sold to buyers willing to renovate them in 2026. The city has set aside $15 million in Proposal N closeout funds to address soil remediation, making it unlikely that the cleanup will affect Detroit's finances.
Despite the challenges, Duggan says the effort is one of his administration's most satisfying accomplishments. "Homeowners who stayed in Detroit and never left were the ones who gained the most wealth," he said. A University of Michigan study released earlier this year found that Detroit homeowners gained a total $4.6 billion in home equity between 2014 and 2023, with appreciation recorded in every neighborhood.
However, the investigation into Iron Horse's operations is ongoing, and contractors who intentionally used unapproved soil sources may face fraud charges. The state Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) is overseeing the investigation, which has intensified this year after investigators determined that contaminated soil may have been used at dozens of residential demolition sites.
While the city continues to make progress in its effort to clear out vacant properties, the ongoing environmental cleanup effort raises questions about the effectiveness of the city's approach. As the final closeout of Proposal N nears, officials must ensure that the cleanup is thorough and that responsible contractors are held accountable for their actions.
It sounds like a lot of money going into soil testing and stuff... I mean i know its better than having toxic houses around, but 942 homes is still a lot... what happened to the people who lived in those houses? did they get help with finding new places to live or was it all just swept under the rug? 
They're trying to clean up all the old houses before they can even sell them to people who wanna renovate them. It just seems like a lot of work for not a lot of money 
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. I mean, it's not like the city didn't do enough to clear out the abandoned ones already 
. Now they're just gonna have to test every site for soil contamination? That sounds like a lot of hassle 
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. Like, I get it, we need to protect the environment and all that 
. But at the same time, let's not forget that people are trying to fix up those old homes too 
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. It's like they're taking two steps forward and one step back 
. Sure, homeowners who stayed in Detroit saw some gains in home equity, but what about those whose homes were demolished without warning? Don't they deserve more consideration?
. But I think it's time for a closer look at how this whole process was handled. Was it just a case of good intentions gone wrong, or are there deeper systemic issues at play? 
. I'm not saying it's all bad, but let's be real, most of those homes were still vacant and being torn down when the city started this demolition effort. What did homeowners do with that money, exactly? Invest in some fancy new fixer-upper? Please... and what about the ones who actually lived in those houses and got priced out by gentrification? They're the real victims here 
. And don't even get me started on the environmental cleanup - if 240 homes are being demolished next year, how much soil is going to be contaminated again? 
Detroit's demolition effort is a mixed bag at best. On one hand, they've made progress by demolishing 27,000 homes and selling another 19,000 for renovation - not bad considering the state of the city back in 2014. But on the other hand, the land bank inventory has dwindled to just 942, which is a far cry from the original 47,000. And now they're dealing with environmental cleanup issues because of contaminated soil at some demolition sites 
. It's like they were trying to clean up one mess only to create another. I mean, who wants to renovate a house that's been tainted by toxic waste? Not me 
. The recent environmental cleanup effort has also raised concerns over contaminated soil and its potential impact on the city's finances 
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. The ongoing investigation into Iron Horse's operations will help ensure that responsible contractors are held accountable for their actions 
. Ultimately, a more nuanced approach that balances urban renewal with environmental responsibility is necessary to achieve lasting success 
.
wut kinda satisfaction can u feel when u gotta deal wiv that kinda mess? 
. I mean, sure, the city's made some progress, but at what cost? It sounds like they're just papering over the problems instead of actually addressing them 
it's crazy how 47,000 abandoned homes went from being a major issue to just 942 and then some are still stuck in limbo 