There has been much fuss about a recent “experiment” in clearing areas of the City via demolition. An 8 city block section on the eastside between St. Aubin and Chene streets was cleared of abandoned buildings and overgrown vegetation.
These church buildings were the most obvious thing in this section of city that had to go. But what was on the other blocks ?
Here is how it all looks now – flat. But not empty ?
Looks like the handfull of houses that remain are inhabited. So they did not relocate anybody.
This crazy abandoned place still sits on the St. Aubin end of this area – apparently somebody owns this but does not maintain it or keep it free from graffiti. [correction: this house is now owned by somebody who intends on bringing up to code and maintaining it - but he has apparently only owned it since last fall. it was previous owners who let it descend into its current condition]
But now, with everything around it flattened, who wouldnt want to live here ?
Looks like some of the residents of this area did get dislodged, this pack was looking very desperate for food and shelter.
http://goo.gl/maps/2q6jr
Here is the area in question on Google before the demolitions. Um…. Doesnt look like there was much there aside from the church, and it also looks like they actually left almost all the standing structures in the area in tact.
So, they demolished the church property and cut the grass. This was a hype.
The infrastructure tells us that this little hood dates back at least until 1925 in its current configuration.
14 Responses to 8 city blocks razed
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I own the house at 2126 Pierce and don’t appreciate your assuming comments. I was the 8th owner in as many years and purchased it late last fall from an 80 year old lady in Tennessee. She bought it “on accident” in an “investment package”. When I purchased the home it didn’t even have exterior doors. Yes, there is graffiti, but painting cinder block in the winter is asking for future maintenance nightmares. I spent the majority of the fall and winter cleaning out the massive amount of wet drywall interlaced with hypodermic needles, condoms, bus passes, and human feces. I started by putting new exterior doors on. I’ve redone the electrical and installed a security system, and will begin the plumbing within a month. My main goal this fall and winter were to stabilize the place, prevent it from further damage. I’m graduating from U of M in April and will be working on this place full-force, with a particular emphasis on the exterior and landscaping.
If you want to get into the details, I did already reach out to your “news outlet”, asking why you listed my place as your corporate headquarters. You have my contact information and could contact me at any time with questions.
-Darin
Hi Darin – I responded to your contact. I am not a “new outlet” by the way, this is just a guy with a weblog.
If you are really planning on maintaining that property, that is awesome. I will add your comments to my blah blah blah about the house.
Had to clear all of those eyesore trees.
Keep it up guys. I am a grand daughter of the automobile industry. My grandparents worked for Fisher Body, Olds and the Lansing Airport. they all retired in the late 1960′s. It is so sad to see Lansing as well as Detroit. I am out here in California now and these people (Hollywood as well as San Diego ) don’t know what urban blight is. I do, after all, I lived in Chicago, Toledo, Indianapolis, etc….
Darin, have you ever thought of adopting some dogs? Looks like your 4 legged neighbors don’t have a home anymore.
Holly – Lansing is looking much better these days. I lived in East Lansing in the 80′s, and I go back from time to time to visit people. Last time out, I had a great conversation with the Mayor of Lansing and was pretty happy to see so much positive development. Downtown and Michigan Avenue especially. No more massage parlors and rooms to rent by the hour. Hahahaha ! (Jan’s Rooms, used to be next to what is now Clara’s Lansing Station)
Here are some posts from Lansing:
http://detroitfunk.com/?p=5332
http://detroitfunk.com/?p=5365
http://detroitfunk.com/?p=5360
this is all so a charter school can have football and let their kids bang their heads into hard things. Its sad that so many nice schools were allowed to be destroyed that had these facillities, but now we allow our kids to be educated for a profit.
mark my words and see plymouth ed center, their football field is on par with wayne state.
The Krasnicki family lived on Naples street which was located next to Edsel Ford freeway and Chene street. We were located right behind the Shell gas station on the corner of Chene and Edsel Ford. There were only 5 house on the entire block. We were bought out when pole town was in the planning. I am the oldest of 8 children, 5 sisters and 2 brothers. Pam, Karol, Susie, Dolores, Mary, Danny, Edju (Edward) and myself Allan.
Poor pups :(
Hard to debate with your Google aerial view, but these images tell a different stroy:
Haha, Darin-
I saw that photo and the correction below it and immediately thought “I bet that is Darin’s new property.” Also, if you do see the hungry dogs around there a lot, feel free to contact Home Fur Ever rescue. They are really good about responding to strays or contacting other rescues who have room.
It doesnt look that different to me – they knocked down a lot of trees.
Heard the interview about this on NPR and thought, this is just the next step in getting us primed to accept eminent domain, for private profit. Just like Pole town. Thanks for the lowdown on what actually got raised.
This is a real shame. I remember this area when it was wall-to-wall houses. I feel most sorry for the remaining residents, and folks like Darin who are trying their best to preserve the actual built environment of this city (side note: is that the house that was built several years ago by some artists from Europe?).
It seems clear to me that the city’s plan is to tear out everything (including apparently the trees) except for the homes of the remaining residents. With the idea that the residents will find life there so unbearable that they’ll soon move out on their own – costing the city nothing. Really pretty despicable if you think about it.