Mayor's Office

Genesee County Land Bank Announces Plans to Demolish Vacant and Damaged Buildings in Flint

FLINT, Mich – The Genesee County Land Bank Authority (GCLBA), is excited to announce plans to demolish vacant and blighted structures located at 1425 N. Saginaw Street, 810 Ballenger Highway and 1518 N.

Averill Avenue in Flint. The demolition and cleanup was made possible using grant funding provided by the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA), the City of Flint, Genesee County, and a private contribution. The planned blight elimination work includes demolition of five vacant and fire damaged apartment buildings and three commercial buildings, and the removal of approximately thirty vacant and abandoned mobile homes. The Executive Director of the Genesee County Land Bank, Michele Wildman, stated, “Funding to address blighted commercial properties is a critical part of the revitalization of Flint’s neighborhoods. Demolition work at these three sites will improve adjacent residential neighborhoods and help ensure that planned redevelopment efforts by partners in each of these areas are successful.”

“Eliminating blight and stabilizing neighborhoods is one of the Mayor’s top priorities, as well as a key goal of the City’s Imagine Flint Master Plan and Five Year Blight Elimination Framework,” said Sylvester Jones, City Administrator for the City of Flint. “This framework is utilized on a regular basis to prioritize key sites for residential and commercial demolition. In partnership with the Genesee County Land Bank, the City of Flint selected these three key redevelopment sites to support both current and proposed private investment and development, and also to promote public safety for residents and businesses, and stabilize or increase property values in three key nodes of Flint’s Innovation District, as defined in the City of Flint Master Plan. We are very proud of this partnership with the Land Bank and so pleased that our joint efforts were recognized through this important funding award.”

The GCLBA is in the process of completing required environmental testing work. Pre-qualified demolition contractors will be invited to bid on the demolition work later this year. Contractors interested in becoming pre-qualified can find more information on GCLBA’s website at: http://thelandbank.org/democontract.asp. Genesee County Treasurer and GCLBA Board Chairperson Deborah Cherry said, “It is great to see the progress taking place along commercial corridors in Flint, the planned demolition work will help ensure these properties are cleaned up and reused.”

For more information contact:   Michele Wildman  Executive Director, Genesee County Land Bank Authority
[email protected]