Busting Blight Near Schools

A new neighborhood revitalization project focusing on areas around nine Detroit schools was unveiled Thursday.

The program got underway in the Morningside neighborhood on the city’s east side, in a 10-block radius around the Clark Preparatory Academy.

The project includes the demolition of dangerous buildings, housing rehabilitation, along with cleanup and beautification. In addition, social workers will be deployed into schools by the State of Michigan Department of Human Services.

Five state agencies, the city of Detroit, the Wayne County Treasurer’s Office and Detroit Public Schools are involved in the program, along with volunteer and non-profit groups, neighborhood associations, plus corporate and private partners.

Other school areas that will be part of the effort:

-Bagley

-Bates

-Bennett

-Clemente

-East English Village Preparatory Academy

-Harms

-Neinas

-Phoenix Academy

“I welcome the opportunity to join with Governor Snyder and Roy Roberts (DPS Emergency Manager) in this collaborative effort to revitalize our city. It is imperative to maximize the resources we each bring to the challenging process of transforming Detroit for the benefit of our citizens,” said Detroit Mayor Dave Bing.

“This initiative is more than tearing down dangerous structures. It’s about revitalization and diverse partners working together to address multiple factors that help ensure safe, stable neighborhoods and make a real, sustained difference for kids, families and communities,” said Michigan Governor Rick Snyder.

Clark students will participate in a beautification project on the school property that will include planting perennials and bushes.