First Marygrove houses awarded to City in nuisance suits being added to auction website

Winning bidders able to tap into $1mil in forgivable rehab loans

DETROIT - Four months ago, city officials stood in the middle of the Marygrove neighborhood on the city’s northwest side to launch a program to take legal action against the owners of every privately owned vacant home in the 16-block community.

Since then the owners of 35 of the 90 homes originally posted with legal notices have signed agreements to fix up their homes and have them occupied within six months. Work on many of them already is underway.

Today, Mayor Mike Duggan, members of city council and representatives of the Detroit Land Bank Authority returned to Marygrove to announce that the first houses awarded to the Land Bank through the nuisance abatement lawsuit process will be added to the BuildingDetroit.org auction on Wednesday, July 23rd.

The auction will feature its first eight homes in Marygrove. Interested bidders can tour the homes on Sunday, July 20th from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.

“This is one more example of how city government is following through on the things it says it will do to improve neighborhoods,” Mayor Duggan said, adding that, “Taking homes is not our goal; getting them fixed up is our goal. If we do have to take title on a home, we are going to put it into the auction as soon as possible.”

The award of the first nuisance abatement program homes to the Land Bank was made final on Friday. Several other homes in the neighborhood are nearing the final stages of the lawsuit process. Most of those homes are likely to be added to upcoming auctions while some may need to be demolished.

The Land Bank also has partnered with the Wayne County Treasurer to address vacant properties it owns in Marygrove by transferring them to the Land Bank. Those properties also are being added to the auction.

SIGNS OF PROGRESS EVERYWHERE
Until the 2008 financial collapse, Marygrove had been a premiere city neighborhood, with attractive solid brick homes. However, after the 2008 financial crises scores of homeowners – many of them facing foreclosure – left their homes behind. Today, signs of progress are everywhere, with work crews and construction dumpsters a common sight on many streets.

“If people want to see the future of Detroit’s revitalization, it’s right here in Marygrove,” said Council President Brenda Jones. “Vacant homes are being fixed up and auctioned, new LED streetlights have been installed and neighbors are taking pride in their own homes by fixing them up as well. This is what residents can look forward to seeing in neighborhoods across the city very soon.”

TALMER BANK OFFERS $1 MILLION IN FORGIVEABLE LOANS
To help spur a higher level of owner occupancy in the city, locally based Talmer Bank announced that it will begin making available the $25,000 forgivable loans it pledged when the city first took action in Marygrove in April. Winning bidders will be eligible for loans of up to $25,000 to fix up their homes and each year they live in the house $5,000 of that amount will be forgiven.

“Talmer Bank is excited to support the City of Detroit and the Detroit Land Bank Authority to increase homeownership and vitality in the Marygrove neighborhood through our $1 million in forgivable loans,” said David T. Provost, chairman and CEO of Talmer Bank and Trust. “We hope these funds will help winning bidders turn their house into a home where they can create great family memories.”

For more about the Talmer Loan Program or any other financial assistance program for the Neighbors Wanted auction, please visit http://buildingdetroit.org/Financing


MARYGROVE OPEN HOUSE INFO
Sunday, July 20th (Auctions begin July 23rd)
1:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Check-in location: 16531 Cherrylawn
Please RSVP for the tour at www.BuildingDetroit.org