Urban Affairs

INTERACTIVE MAP: Where Detroit is focusing on blight

Posted on: March 24, 2015Written by:Bridge StaffTopic:Urban Affairs





Detroit demolitions



Which Detroit neighborhoods are first in line for home demolition

Detroit leaders are using $50 million from the federal government to demolish thousands of buildings across the city, part of a multi-pronged attack on blight. In doing so, the Detroit Land Bank Authority is focusing on specific neighborhoods, knocking down houses, citing owners for vacant buildings and auctioning off the best that have fallen into city ownership.

You can see those zones highlighted in green. The darker the zone, the more demolitions that are taking place there. Zoom in to see where the city has done the most work. As you get to the street level, red dots represent buildings either demolished or in the process; green represent different stages of auction.

Source: Detroit Land Bank Authority

Other views of the city

As the maps below show, the Detroit neighborhoods being targeted for home demolitions tend to be those that are more densely populated. The targeted neighborhoods also tend to have higher-income residents, higher rates of home ownership and fewer vacant homes. The city contends that attacking blight in these stable areas will help keep more residents from fleeing Detroit. (The black lines on each map indicate neighborhoods getting priority for blight removal). Data comes from the 2010 decennial census and the 2009-2013 American Community Survey.

Density

Detroit density Detroit density

Population per square mile
  • 0 -
    3,477
  • 3,478-
    5,922
  • 5,923-
    8,420
  • 8,421-
    14,871
Source: U.S. Census

Home ownership

Owner-occupancy rate Owner-occupancy rate

Percent owner occupied residences
  • less than
    28.1%
  • 28.1 -
    49.3%
  • 49.3 -
    65.3%
  • more than
    65.3%
Source: U.S. Census

Income

Median household income Median household income

Median household income
  • less than
    $19,259
  • $19,259 -
    $30,190
  • $30,190 -
    $50,088
  • $50,088 -
    $100,000
Source: U.S. Census

Vacancy

Vacancy rate Vacancy rate

Vacant residences
  • 41 -
    63.4%
  • 30 -
    40.9%
  • 18.5 -
    29.9%
  • less than
    18.5%
Source: U.S. Census

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Comments

David Mardckini
Tue, 03/24/2015 - 1:19pm
Very useful information on Detroit's important work to raise itself up.
john
Tue, 03/24/2015 - 2:46pm
Note the number of houses demolished near the borders of Detroit. Also note the very large white area on the map centered at Gratiot and Outer Drive. I've worked and lived in that area. Not a pretty sight
Rezia J.
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 12:43am
My neighbors have been trying to get a dangerous vacant house torn down for years. A senior lives on one side and a police officer on the other. They have torn down over 25 houses in this community yet for some unknown reason not the one next to taxpayers. Where is the sound reason for this type of action by the city of Detroit. Tear down vacant houses where no one lives but leave a dangerous rat infested garbage infested house next to tax paying citizens!!!
Stephen Boyle
Fri, 03/27/2015 - 3:56pm
The nasty houses not removed are used to encourage people to leave the city. Go to the Public Health & Safety meeting of City Council on Mondays at 10am to request action on dangerous buildings. Make a public outcry, our silent pleas are not making a difference. Demand representation and accountability. Also note zero prevent loans places a house as collateral and at risk if forfeit on default. Grant funds would not have houses forfeit. This illegal misappropriated funding is drawing funds away from families in extreme risk. They are the ones who were targeted for Hardest Hit Funds. Michigan and Detroit are mismanaging federal funds.
Paul
Wed, 03/25/2015 - 2:51am
While it is nice that the Campau area in Northeast Detroit 48212, immediately east of Hamtramck is receiving attention, the 48212 areas along E.McNichols and E.Davison , both main and residential streets(Ryan Road,Dean,Simon K.,Moran,Luce,etc..), have some long standing eyesores waiting for demo. Not a pretty picture, especially on well-traveled main streets, an embarassment for the city to have ugly buildings on main streets, extremely so. This area is tucked in between Conant Gardens to the north and Campau to the south, both targeted areas. All of Northeast Detroit 488212, not just a few blocks,needs to be included for city's future growth, especially since it's a highly visible, well traveled area.48212 is a zip also shared with Hamtramck. The contrast between Hamtramck 48212 and Detroit 48212(E.Davison/E.McNichols)is quite pronounced. Hamtramck markets its area to new residents and immigrants, remains densely populated with much retail. Detroit ignores the E.Davison/E.McNichols area in 48212, extremely so for what was once a vibrant urban village hub, neighborhood Downtown.
Helen
Tue, 04/28/2015 - 7:15pm
I think it's great that Detroit is focusing on vacant houses. However we have about 5 vacant houses on my street and I stay two houses from a school. Stray dangerous Dogs and other animals frequent these houses. The children are sometimes forced to stay inside the school fence until the dogs are chased away so they can run home. these houses need real attention before a child gets hurt.
Annie
Tue, 06/16/2015 - 1:35pm
What this map shows is the plan to drive out residents in areas lining the main thoroughfares to free these areas up for future commercial development. If you are a home owner near a future commercial zone they will neglect you until you abandon your property since you will not be able to sell it.
Syd hop
Thu, 03/10/2016 - 8:14pm
There are so many neighborhoods left out or just forgotten, Eastside, Warren & Shoemaker bordering main streets, French Rd and Cadillac. The people still care but lack of an opportunity to find a job to take care of their family or themselves is tearing them down to the point of no self respect or dignity and pride of their neighborhoods. Blight of the homes and blight of no income to sustain their homes. When they tear them down, what is next, a house here and yonder.