308 Polk StreetBAY CITY, MI (WNEM) -
Bay City resident Charles Hiltz lives across the street from an abandoned house on Polk Street. The home is one of four properties the city plans to tear down in the next 30 days. This after city leaders voted unanimously to approve a series of demolition orders during the city's commission meeting on Monday. And Hiltz is pleased to hear the city is taking action to make life in his neighborhood better.
"I'm pleased with the fact that there's an eyesore that is going to be gone. It's in real rough shape. And a vacant lot sometimes is better than looking at a building that's in shambles," Hiltz said.
Deputy City Manager Dana Muscott tells WNEM Monday's vote shows just how serious commissioners are when it comes to tackling the blight problem in their city.
"Anytime there's abandoned homes dilapidated in anybody's neighborhood it's a problem. There's a safety issue where kids might want to get in there and play or they could get hurt. They're falling apart so they needed to be demolished," Muscott said.
That demolition is something David Matuzak is looking forward to seeing. He lives next to a deserted home on Michigan Avenue and he's glad to see the city is stepping in to take care of these neglected structures.
"We have a beautiful city here and for them to start working on that is a big deal," Matuzak said.
A federal grant is providing the funding to demolish these homes. The city hopes to tear down anywhere from 50 to 100 homes over the next few months.
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