Written by Tanya Terry
A home on the 1200 block of W. Home Avenue was demolished April 13, kicking off the ARPA Demolition Program through the Genesee County Landbank Authority (GCLBA) and partners, and bringing a sense of satisfaction to area residents.
Michael Freeman, executive director at GCLBA, spoke with emotion at the kickoff.
The day before, Freeman said a memory came up on social media of him at a Flint City Council meeting until 3 a.m. waiting for approval of the APRA contract one year from the date of the kickoff.
“Everyone deserves to live in a clean, blight-free neighborhood,” Freeman stated. “This program is going to actually deal with the issues of abandonment and blight.”
Over 1,900 structures are being prepared for demolition by the end of 2025, and 176 structures are planned to be completed by early June! GCLBA is currently seeking additional funding and prioritizing more vacant and blighted Land Bank structures to demolish to reach the goal of demolishing more than 2,400 blighted structures in Flint and Genesee County by the end of 2026.
Mayor Sheldon Neeley pointed out how important partnerships among various federal, local and statewide entities were in making the demolition program possible.
According to information provided by GCLBA, blight elimination funding sources include: $16 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) from the City of Flint, $8 million in ARPA from the county, $5 million in Community Project Funding through Congressman Kildee’s office, $10 million from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, $4.5 million from the Land Bank and the Genesee County Treasurer and $250,000 from the Michigan State Land Bank.
Chair of the Genesee County Board of Commissioners Ellen Ellenburg also said the partnership between county, city, the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, the state and the federal government was an example of what can be accomplished when entities work together.
Jennifer Acree of the Mott Foundation stated the ambitious project addresses residents’ concerns around blight and public safety.
Emily Doerr, executive director of the Michigan State Landbank Authority, expressed that she was “extra excited” because she is a resident of Flint. She also informed those present that more money was coming from Lansing.
Shawn Hairston, president of Bel-Aire Woods Association, said members of his organization continue to keep the grass cut, pick up trash and inform neighbors about blight. They also make sure people don’t enter abandoned homes, therefore helping to keep the neighborhood safe. Hairston said he expects the neighborhood, which he grew up in, to become safer as a result of tearing the home down April 13.
“The reason I am so passionate about this is I was born and raised in Flint, and I know a lot of these older people who have worked hard at General Motors,” Hairston said. “I see how the neighborhood is now. So, with my experience and knowledge and the things I know, I can bring something back to the table so that they can continue to live the great life that they had before.”
Michael Vaughn lives in a house next to the home that was being torn down. Vaughn said the demolition has been “a long time coming.” He said he has seen “an extreme environment culture change” when comparing living in the neighborhood to how it was in 1973, when he first moved in. He described to the Courier how he feels about the Landbank’s Demolition Program so far.
“I feel better because it’s removing an eyesore,” he said. “Hopefully, someone will come build on it. I would like to see more houses built replacing the houses that have been abandoned to help stabilize and beautify the neighborhood. We need to get this neighborhood back to how it used to be. Black neighborhoods matter.”
