Special offer

The Incredible Shrinking City...

By
Managing Real Estate Broker with Windermere Peninsula Properties

Dinah Sees a Mini City...

In Flint Michigan the City has taken the proactive approach of removing old abandoned homes from certain neighborhoods.

The concern is that they attract crime.There is also potential for injury if someone were to go inside exploring such as a small child might do.

I think removing these home is a good idea. In fact it is being stated that the property values are going to rise almost instantly!

Now for part two. The above all sounded like a positive move to me until it was mentioned that the city is considering asking the residents in the remaining nice homes to relocate to other "better" neighborhoods in an effort to save money. The City has not approached homeowners yet but are crunching numbers on saving money by not providing some services such as garbage to just 1 or 2 people on a given street. They are looking in to the possibility of condensing the population and therefore saving costs.

What do you think? Is this a good idea gone to far? Is is fair to the tax payers? Would you support this in your neighborhood?

Posted by

When you are Buying or Selling your home EXPECT MORE!Call or text Dinah Griffey today at 360-551-8888 or visit my website www.FindYourNorthwest.com

Troy Ott
Coldwell Banker United, REALTORS - Columbia, SC

I am all for historic preservation but also understand why the city is planning on removing these homes.  On the other side, the city really needs to consider the impact that asking homeowner's to move is going to have on the city in general.  Looks like a big mess waiting to happen!

May 06, 2009 05:12 AM
Ethan Carlson
Advantage Lending Corp. - Rochester, MI
Licensed Loan Officer

Something similar needs to happen in Detroit - too many old, decrepit homes that brew crime. On any day you can find hundreds of foreclosure listings in Detroit for $1000-9000 - the same thing is happening to homes in Flint I hear, however as both were impacted greatly by job cuts at the big 3...

May 06, 2009 05:15 AM
Kim Peasley-Parker
AgentOwned Realty, Heritage Group, Inc. - Sumter, SC

Wow, this is really interesting.  Ironic in a way because my sister is a school teacher in Saginaw Michigan and told me the school district in Flint went from 30,000 students to 12,000.  That is an extreme change.  Given those numbers, I can see why the city is trying to consolidate services.  Is it right or wrong, I am not sure, need to think about it more.  I did want to add the information about the schools though as Flint is shutting down school buildings and consolidating.  Would moving families to other neighborhoods mean moving kids closer to their schools?  Is that a good thing or a bad thing.....

May 06, 2009 05:17 AM
Dinah Lee Griffey
Windermere Peninsula Properties - Allyn, WA
Managing Broker Windermere Peninsula Properties

You all seem to be on the same page I am. Is it good or bad? It sounds great if not taken to far. With these homes gone and the values rising would it be a good retirement community? There are a lot of ideas that could really work here. I am not liking the idea of relocating people. But I am sure there is a way to work this out for everyone.

Those School numbers are startling! Maybe it is a good time to look into to moving to Flint Michigan- small class sizes, clean neighborhoods...

                                     -Dinah Lee

May 06, 2009 05:22 AM
Mike Saunders
Retired - Athens, GA

Dinah - I am not opposed to the demolition of abandoned homes, however, I am against forcing people to move by terminating services that they have been paying taxes to receive. Who will then retain ownership of the abandoned/confiscated/whatever land? That looks like a back door extension of eminent domain to me.

May 06, 2009 06:17 AM
Terry Miller
Miller Homes Group - Tyler, TX
Miller Homes Group and Tyler Apartment Locator

If they are empty, tear them down and put something that produces  $$$$.

May 07, 2009 01:46 AM
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

I'm totally against the government taking private land for any reason.  If it's an empty eyesore than fine the owners and make them clean it up, but taking someone's home is a crime.

May 07, 2009 06:46 AM
Kevin Robinson
Twin Falls, ID
Fractional Developer

Typical government answer to something. Take the lazy way out.

May 09, 2009 03:16 AM
John Mayer
Oikos Realty, Cape Canaveral, Cocoa Beach Florida - Cocoa Beach, FL
Your Beach Area Expert

Dinah Lee - Someone needs to think this one through a lot more before families are disrupted. Your post is now featured at "Stories. People and Photos".

May 11, 2009 04:29 PM