Nuisance Abatement Program
Tackling Blighted and Deteriorated Buildings to Protect
Wayne County Neighborhoods
The NAP Process
Working together with the community, Wayne County identifies nuisance properties.
- The Nuisance Abatement Team follows up by going to the address and conducting an investigation. The property must be a blighting influence and abandoned. The investigators complete a Visual Inspection Form, which details the property's location, condition, and construction, and identifies any other activity on the property.
- After determining ownership of the property through a title search and by investigating public records, the Nuisance Abatement Team files a nuisance abatement suit against the last identifiable owner(s)
- If no one responds to the lawsuit or if a defendant unsuccessfully challenges the law suit, Wayne County asks the court for title to the property as a remedy to "abate the nuisance."
- As a last resort, Wayne County takes title to the property and sells it on the County's website, similar to an eBay auction. The purchaser is required by contract to redevelop the property within established time constraints. Purchasers are responsible for payment of outstanding city and county taxes and water bills.
The NAP Commitment to Communities
The Nuisance Abatement Program works very closely with neighborhood groups, block clubs, and non-profit community development corporations (CDC's) throughout Detroit and Wayne County. An example of NAP's partnership with a community organization is found in Detroit's Westside Brightmoor Community.
Working with Brightmoor Community leaders, NAP has initiated over 300 lawsuits in that area. A neighborhood struggling to keep its identity as a working class community, Brightmoor has been thrilled by the work NAP is doing in the area. This map indicates the extensive assistance and support NAP has provided for the Westside Brightmoor Community.
Program Accomplishments
- Increased citizen involvement by reaching out to community groups that serve the neighborhoods that the NAP Program is targeting.
- Improved the method of investigating nuisance properties to insure maximum impact on Wayne County communities.
- Annual "Rap with NAP", a public meeting to explain the Nuisance Abatement Program and encourage community groups to work together with Wayne County. The Wayne County Community Renaissance Awards are given out at this event.
- Together with Wayne County Executive Robert A. Ficano, presented the Nuisance Abatement Program at town hall meetings throughout Wayne County.
- Improved closing services to transfer properties effectively to new owners who will remedy the nuisance found on the property.
- NAP staff volunteers for the City of Detroit sponsored Angel's Night in October annually.
- Continued to address nuisance properties in Detroit; initiated effort to address nuisance properties in Hamtramck, Westland, and Highland Park.
- Developed The Wayne County NAP Newsletter to share Nuisance Abatement Program accomplishments and community nuisance abatement activity throughout the year.
- Planning for expansion of Nuisance Abatement Program to other Wayne County cities.
Detroit Vacant Property Campaign
- Wayne County Commission
- Wayne County Treasurer
- Wayne County Register of Deeds
- Detroit City Council
- Community Legal Resources
- Detroit Economic Growth Corporation
- Detroit Department
of Buildings and Safety
- City of Detroit
Assessor's Office
- Michigan State Housing Development Authority
- Young Detroit Builders
- City of Hamtramck
- City of Westland
- City of Highland Park
- City of Detroit's Law Department
- Wayne County Prosecutor
- Detroit Public Schools
A Unique Wayne County Program
Mary Banks - Northwest Detroit Neighborhood Association
"Wayne County NAP has been a great help for the Brightmoor community in eliminating the substantial blight we have to deal with. We are thankful for NAP's assistance and we consider them our good friend and partner. They have been very helpful in restoring our community."
Sarida Scott Montgomery - Community Legal Resources
"NAP's creative approach to addressing the blight in our communities has been very effective. Nuisance abatement is an excellent tool for tackling the growing problem of vacant property. NAP has taken the lead in this area and should be commended for its willingness to work with others around this common issue."
Lynn Smith - Southeastern Village
"Wayne County NAP has been invaluable in working with the Southeastern Village community to create safer routes for children going to and from school. They have taken swift action to contact and fine owners whose property are near schools and present potential danger to children. They are to be commended."
Mike Fisher - Detroit Community Initiative
"Wayne County's Nuisance Abatement project is a blessing to us living in northeast Detroit. Fellow community leaders and residents are trying to prevent neighborhood deterioration. Our organization, Detroit Community Initiative (DCI), has worked with staff from Corporation Counsel to report commercial and residential properties that pose a threat to the community. Additionally, many speculators buy buildings and fail to maintain them or lease them. Many of these complaints have resulted in court action. NAP has forced many owners to clean up their properties and forced owners of vacant commercial properties to develop the site or sell it.
"Wayne County is where we want families to live and businesses to invest, thrive and grow. The vitality and attractiveness of any community is based on how well it is maintained. Through the Nuisance Abatement Program, Wayne County is aggressive in its effort to remove unsightly and blighted property that negatively impacts the value of our neighborhoods."