Detroit Begins Demolition of Vacant Houses

Demolition is to start on the first of 3,000 vacant houses that Detroit Mayor Dave Bing has promised to tear down this year.

Bing’s office said that crews began work Thursday at two houses on the city’s east side.

The demolitions are part of the mayor’s four-year plan to tear down 10,000 of the most dangerous and blighted buildings in Detroit. Federal funds will pay for the first two years of demolitions.

A recent study has shown that of the more than 33,000 vacant houses in the city, about 10,000 must be demolished.

The addresses of about 1,000 empty houses scheduled to be torn down were to be posted on the city’s Web site late Thursday afternoon.