A recent report discusses the recent passing of a Dangerous Buildings Ordinance in Redford MI (48239-40) and an increased effort to address blighted and abandoned properties.

To run a property report for Redford properties housed in the Safeguard database please click on the following link.

Redford MI
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Neighbors pin hopes on blight ordinance

Redford Township is cracking down on vacant homes, properties that aren't kept up to code.

For Shannon Perfect, the mischievous teens breaking out windows of abandoned houses and stealing bicycles on her block are unsettling.

The 30-year-old stay-at-home mother of five lives in a four-bedroom bungalow near Five Mile and Telegraph. She said the number of dilapidated homes and vandalism in the neighborhood has escalated since she moved in six years ago.

"A lot of riff-raff goes on around here with teens that are up to no good," said Perfect, as she stacked up her children's bicycles and reattached their lock. "We like our neighbors but don't like some of the people that come into our neighborhood."

Perfect, who has noticed at least four vacant homes on her street, hopes a new city ordinance designed to fight blight will revitalize the township and make it a more attractive place to live and do business.

The township's Dangerous Buildings Ordinance, initiated by Township Supervisor R. Miles Handy II, includes strict standards and maintenance regulations for vacant or foreclosed property.

"We didn't have an ordinance before … this is brand-new," Handy said. "The goal is trying to step up the enforcements and clean up some trouble spots throughout the community."

Under the ordinance, the township will inspect questionable properties to verify that wiring and repairs are up to code. The landlords, homeowners or banks that are responsible for the properties will be held financially accountable for necessary improvements.

So far, the township has identified at least 35 vacant or foreclosed properties out of the community's 20,000 homes, Handy said.

"We want Redford Township to be known as a community that's coming back," he said. "We're out every day looking into it and receive weekly calls from residents who've noticed a difference since this ordinance was instated."

JorJan Allen, a Realtor for Century 21 in Redford Township, sees the ordinance as a plus.

"This will certainly improve the community if landlords and homeowners here keep things up,'" she said. "It will increase the appeal of the neighborhoods. It's a good thing.

"There are certain areas where there are quite a few rental properties and they would benefit from the ordinance. We have more vacant homes right now than we've had in the past, and I think this will help cut down on that."

The new policy also allows the township to remove property left vacant that's in a severe state of disrepair, said Al Hoard, superintendent of the township building department.

"The ordinance will enable us to remove hazardous or abandoned properties," he said. "It's a nice tool to keep the town clean."

The new restrictions have allowed Hoard to register hazardous and dangerous businesses in the community so officials can make sure they are maintained.

Things classified under "dangerous buildings" include defying health or fire code violations, damage from wind, fire and flood and collapsing or dilapidated property.

Perfect is hopeful that the new rules will improve the condition and safety in her neighborhood.

"The conditions around here keep getting worse, and hopefully this will help," she said.

To view the online article please click on the following link.

Redford Township MI  Dangerous Buildings Ordinance