Official says Wayne County Land Bank funded demolition planned at Woodward and McLean to clear long-standing blight

An unnamed city official said the Community and Economic Development (CED) department, with funding from the Wayne County Land Bank, will demolish a long-blighted building at Woodward Avenue and McLean to clear the site for new development.

The official said the building has been a blight on Woodward Avenue “for, like, 20 years” and that demolition will allow new development to proceed. The official added residents who live directly behind the building have been concerned about fumes and other hazards from the property.

Why it matters: The official framed demolition as a necessary step to enable redevelopment and remove a longstanding neighborhood eyesore. The official said removing the structure will let “a new development occur” and allow neighbors to “see the vision” for the area without the derelict building in place.

Details and context: The official attributed the demolition effort to the CED department in partnership with the Wayne County Land Bank and said funding had been secured to take the building down. The official did not provide a demolition schedule, contractor name, property owner name, or a redevelopment plan for the parcel once it is cleared.

Community concerns: The official said nearby residents have been concerned about fumes and other issues and expressed gratitude that the property is being addressed.

The remarks conveyed intent to clear the parcel so that housing, mixed-use development or new businesses may be possible in the future, but no specific redevelopment approvals or sales timelines were provided in the remarks.