With Help From Duggan's Office, Detroit Neighborhood Boards Up Empty Homes

DETROIT (WWJ) -- There is an early Spring cleaning effort in one east side Detroit neighborhood this weekend.

On Friday, residents in the area of Van Dyke and Outer Dr. started boarding up several abandoned houses stretching across three blocks.

Helco Block Club president Russ Bellant told WWJ Newsradio 950's Stephanie Davis that the group is rehabbing some homes as well.

"We're trying to move people in -- we've already filled four households with rehabbed houses," Bellant said. "We've got more to do and this makes the neighborhood a little more attractive and [gives it] a little safer feel."

Mayor Mike Duggan's office provided the block club with the 45 sheets of ply wood being used in the effort.

Ray Solomon works as a part of Duggan's administration and said that the mayor is keeping his word and assisting neighborhoods with projects like these.

"The mayor made a commitment that if the block club had the man power he would supply the wood and that is the program that we are working through now," Solomon said.

The group will be covering the open windows and doorways of about 20 homes on three blocks.

"We're basically priming the wood, preparing frames and mounting the wood over portals that allow entry of children or ne'er-do-wells and making sure that the neighborhood is safe," Bellant said.