2008 Events --> August 8, 2008

County agency continues to build neighborhoods; project along Linwood a big success

Detroit – The sound of an electric saw and hammers pounding nails may not raise eyebrows in many neighborhoods, but in this area along Linwood in Detroit, for some, it’s the sound of music.

Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano and members of a county team (today) inspected construction of two houses undergoing renovation by Young Detroit Builders, a nonprofit formed to assist young adults with job and life-skills development. Young Detroit Builders is also part of the federal AmeriCorps program, which since 1994 has channeled thousands of young adults into programs that, among other tasks, build affordable housing.

The houses undergoing renovation are owned by the county’s Nuisance Abatement Program, or NAP, which assumes title to abandoned or blighted property if the owners had refused or neglected to restore it. Mr. Ficano was accompanied on a tour of work by NAP co-directors Eric Sabree and Michael Russell, attorneys for the county’s Corporation Counsel and NAP’s parent agency.

The neighborhood where the renovation is taking place is pockmarked by abandoned and blighted housing. It’s also an area where several nonprofits have built new houses, giving the neighborhood the odd feel of bright hope and profound decay.
Mr. Ficano remarked to the Young Detroit Builders’ team that they “should be very proud of their efforts, in their lives and in the neighborhoods where (you) have meant so much,” he said.

In its short existence, the county’s NAP has shown resounding success. Dozens of blighted homes have been restored, either through the efforts of homeowners or the county, Sabree said. The county has, in fact, hosted an annual event to honor those property owners who elect to restore homes left for dead. At the most recent RAP with NAP forum, five private owners and a nonprofit were recognized for restoration work throughout the city. The program is countywide, and several owners in cities such as Westland have participated.

Young Detroit Builders is an important component in the county’s campaign to rebuild neighborhoods because it serves a number of purposes, said Jerry Pauzus, a retired carpenter and the agency’s construction manager. Many of the participants are at the edges of society, having little formal education and few skills, he said. Young Detroit Builders mixes classwork with hands-on training. Volunteers (18-24) must obtain a high-school diploma and the training often leads to advanced licensing and other skills employers need to hire a carpenter or skilled tradesman, he said.

“I can’t say enough about (Young Detroit Builders),” Pauzus said. “These young men and women want to learn a trade, want to give back, but it can be difficult, considering the circumstances so many face. It’s truly amazing what they can accomplish, given the opportunity.”

Homes restored by Young Detroit Builders, and other nonprofits, are provided to lower-income families and other qualified people. Much of the material is donated by large chain stores like Home Depot and Wal-Mart. And participants receive a small stipend during the 10-month alternative education program. Young Detroit Builders was founded in the mid-1990s by Beverly Manick.

More information about NAP is available at (313) 224-5757.

Event Photos (Click to enlarge)