Channel 7's #backchannel takes on blight in Detroit, teams up with Motor City Blight Busters

Detroit (WXYZ) - The big brown building at the corner of Schoolcraft and Fielding used to be a general store. Then it was a vacuum cleaner repair shop. But now it’s a dangerous eyesore.

Just yards from a clean and colorful playground next to the City Mission school the yawning shadowy mouths of the long-gone doors beckon the children to come play inside. The staff at City Mission does its best to keep it clean and debris free, but it’s still a dark and dangerous place to play.

So it comes as a relief that after this weekend the building will be gone.

“Places like this just sit there dilapidated,” City Mission’s Jeff Adams tells us. “It has no use and becomes a location for crime.”

Motor City Blight Busters has spent decades moving across the city, tearing down old homes and buildings.

“We want to get rid of the bad and bring in the good.” Blight Busters founder John George says. “We’re hoping by the close of business on Saturday this building is just a distant memory. Our goal is to remove all of it in just 4 to 6 hours.”

The old saying says “many hands make light work” and George will have hundreds of hands at his disposal thanks to Channel 7’s engaged Twitter “family” the #backchannel.

During Channel 7 newscasts our anchors, reporters, producers and photographers are engaged in an ongoing conversation via Twitter with hundreds of viewers at a time. That “backchannel” has unified to help Blight Busters take down the old building in the Brightmoor community.

By mid July a new set of classrooms will stand where the blighted building is now. The school hopes to expand its current enrollment of 60 by fall, and add new after school programs.

For details on how you can be a part click here for a Facebook event listing. 

THE DETAILS:

WXYZ #Backchannel Bust Up
Saturday, June 25, 2011

Meet-up:

• 7:30 a.m - 9:00 a.m.
• Motor City Java House - 17336 Lahser Road, Detroit, Michigan

1st Stage:

• 9:00 a.m. - lunch 
• 22685 Santa Maria, Detroit, Michigan
• Crew will help complete the cleanup of the lot

Lunch:

• Approximately noon - 1:00 p.m.

2nd Stage:

• Approximately 1:00 p.m. until work is complete
• 20503 Schoolcraft, Detroit, Michigan
• Demolishing the building and clearing the site