For years neighbors felt powerless as they watched their block be turned into a playground for criminals, and the trouble started with a vacant house.
Wanting help, they turned to 7 Action News Reporter Ronnie Dahl.
As demolition crews make their way through Detroit tearing down blighted, vacant homes, they hadn't yet made it to Wormer Street.
Neighbors waited and hoped, because for them three vacant houses were more than eyesores, they stole their sense of safety.
It started with one vacant house. In the neighborhood, it was known as the Obama house after someone tagged it years ago.
Soon, the two houses next door became vacant. With caring neighbors moved out, criminals moved in: hookers, drug dealers and drug users.
After years of dealing with the nuisance properties, they were coming down.
“It’s going to be a huge difference.” Brittany Young told 7 Action News. “To be able to drive down and walk down the street and not be approached by hookers and crack heads, it’s going to be great. My nieces and nephews are going to be safe. We are all going to feel safer with these gone.”
According to Brian Farkas with Detroit’s Building Authority, the “Obama” house is the 7,743 house to be torn down under the Duggan administration. Efforts are being made to get to every neighborhood, but in reality, it will take years and millions of dollars.
For those living near Wormer Street, the city’s 7,743 demolition brings with it the promise of better things to come.
To track demotions in Detroit, click on the following link: http://detroitmi.gov/demolition
