Michigan Town Ready to Bulldoze 1,000 Empty Homes

Tuesday, July 14, 2009 11:33 AM

FLINT, Mich. -- The state has awarded Flint $1.27 million to demolish vacant houses.

The Flint City Council voted Monday night to accept the grant from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority. The council approved $1.05 million in federally funded demolition work in May.

Flint's population has fallen to 115,000 from a peak of 197,000.

That drop parallels the loss of jobs at General Motors Corp., which once had a local work force of 80,000 but now employs about 6,000 in the city.

Flint has about 1,000 homes slated for demolition.

Community and Economic Development Director Tracy Atkinson says officials are sending the list of homes awaiting demolition to council members so they can have a say in deciding which to tear down first.

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