DETROIT – Demolition of dangerous abandoned buildings has been one of Detroit’s top initiatives for several years.
Work started on a big one as a former school on the city’s southwest side is coming down, and residents nearby said they had been waiting for this moment.
Hanneman Elementary School became the city’s 100th demolition of commercial vacant buildings in Detroit.
“First of all, it is a fantastic day in the city of Detroit,” said District 6 Manager Eva Torres.
Demolition of Detroit’s most dangerous buildings has become a fresh start for the neighborhood on the west side.
“The oportunity for the neighborhood, the revitalization, what’s coming, the residents are super excited not just to see the school coming down this but see what new is coming to the neighborhoods,” Torres said.
The elementary school, built in 1916, was left vacant by Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD), which caused the city to take it over.
The Detroit Demolition Department is taking it down, and when you see Demo in Detroit, think of people like Ernestine Goshn.
“I’m not sad to see it come down because a lot of kids play and go in over there and I’m surprised you haven’t found a body over there,” said Goshn.
The demolition is under the direction of Director Lajuan Counts.
“Neighborhoods, that is where our residents are, and we’re going to make sure our residents are provided with the quality of life,” said Counts. “And these properties have continued to be a burden on the residents as they’re the ones that had to deal with watching them. People and kids are not accessing them. It’s a way for us to provide some quality of life to our residents.”
Counts says 200 more demolitions of vacant and dangerous commercial buildings are expected to take place.
The elementary school is expected to be completed on Monday, and demolition 101 will also occur on Monday.
Read: 2 dangerous buildings are finally coming down after being left in disrepair for years in Detroit
More: ‘It’s not safe for us’: Demolition of school in Southgate prompts concerns among residents
