Flint, MI – The Genesee County Land Bank Authority (GCLBA) continues to secure funding to demolish more than 1,900 blighted structures prioritized for demolition under its aggressive demolition program. The State of Michigan awarded the GCLBA $3 million out of the $29 million available under round four of the State Land Bank Authority’s Blight Elimination Program. This brings the total secured by the GCLBA through the four rounds of the state’s $72.5 million program to $6.5 million.
The total secured to date for the GCLBA’s demolition campaign from all local, state, and federal sources now exceeds $52 million, as detailed in the table below. Since the GCLBA signed its first grant agreements under the aggressive demolition program in October of 2022, the Land Bank has cleared, or is in the process of clearing, more than 600 blighted structures.
The Land Bank continues to successfully implement its aggressive blight elimination campaign despite a competitive contracting environment and a limited pool of experienced contractors qualified to complete federally regulated demolitions that comply with air quality and worker safety rules and regulations, as required for all Land Bank demolitions. As a result, the costs of demolition are higher than anticipated, requiring the Land Bank to raise more funds than originally planned. The Genesee County Treasurer’s Office has committed $2 million and the GCLBA has committed more than $4.5 million towards the demolition of the blighted structures in the Land Bank’s inventory.
“Clearing blighted properties is a priority for the Land Bank,” said Michael Freeman, executive director, GCLBA.
Freeman added: “We know that making neighborhoods safe, blight free and beautiful helps lay the groundwork for new investments in housing and neighborhoods. This work complements our work with residents and our many community partners to investment in new and improved housing in our community.”
Structures Prioritized for Demolition:
The list of 1,910 funded demolitions is available here: List for website 2-13-24.xlsx (thelandbank.org) and List for website 2-13-24.xlsx (thelandbank.org) and will continue to be updated as properties may be sold or cancelled, and projects may experience delays due to unanticipated circumstances. Properties included on the Land Bank’s website are also noted as “Funded” under Demolition Status with regularly updated date ranges at www.flintpropertyportal.com.
GCLBA Demolition Program Stats:
- 1,910 blighted commercial and residential Land Bank structures prioritized for demolition.
- 96% of structures prioritized for demolition funding are residential.
- GCLBA secured $52 million since September 2022 for blight elimination.
- Average demolition cost has increased by nearly 45% since 2022.
- 600 demolitions have been completed or under contract so far.
- 400 demolitions completed.
- 200 structures under contract and in process
- 200 structures out to bid and will be contracted very soon.
GCLBA Blight Elimination Funding Secured from September 2022-February 27, 2024:
| FUNDING SOURCE | AMOUNT |
| Genesee County ARPA | $ 8,000,000.00 |
| City of Flint ARPA | $ 16,000,000.00 |
| Charles Stewart Mott Foundation | $ 10,000,000.00 |
| Community Project Funding (Congressman Kildee) | $ 5,000,000.00 |
| Michigan State Land Bank Blight Elimination Program, Round 1 | $ 200,000.00 |
| Michigan State Land Bank Blight Elimination Program, Round 2 | $ 800,000.00 |
| Michigan State Land Bank Blight Elimination Program, Round 3 | $ 2,500,000.00 |
| Michigan State Land Bank Blight Elimination Program, Round 4 | $ 3,000,000.00 |
| Genesee County Treasurer | $ 2,000,000.00 |
| Genesee County Land Bank Authority | $ 4,500,000.00 |
| $ 52,000,000.00 |
Demolition Will Be Underway on 2/29/24 at the following addresses:
2106 W Home Flint, MI 48504 and 114 W Lorado Ave. Flint, MI 48505 starting at 9 am.
Additional details on the funding available through the Michigan State Land Bank Authority are provided below:
