Detroit Targets Abandoned Hospital in Blight Removal Effort

Detroit’s effort to remove commercial property blight has targeted the Southwest Detroit Hospital.

Abandoned Southwest Detroit Hospital

Detroit’s effort to clean up blight has now targeted the abandoned Southwest Detroit Hospital. Mayor Mike Duggan’s administration has signed a consent agreement with the owner to clean-up the building.

Melvin Hollowell is the Corporation Council for the City of Detroit. He says the hospital has been an eyesore for the past decade.

“It’s a five-story facility, and there probably wasn’t a square inch on that building that wasn’t covered in graffiti,” Hollowell says. “So part of the consent agreement indicates that the owner has to paint over all the graffiti. And that’s about 90 percent done.”

Hollowell says the agreement also requires the owner to cut down overgrown weeds and to secure the property from trespassers. He says he expects the changes to be made by the end of the month.  

Author

  • Bre'Anna Tinsley
    Bre'Anna Tinsley is a reporter for Detroit Public Radio, 101.9 WDET. She covers city government and housing, as well as co-hosting the "Detroit Evening Report" podcast.