Flint, Michigan – The City of Flint and the Flint Housing Commission are getting ready to celebrate a big step forward in their plans to improve the communities. On Thursday, August 21, officials met at 3123 Chambers Street for a ceremony to mark the end of the Atherton East Apartments, a housing complex that has been around since the 1960s.
Flint was going through a time of urban rebirth when Atherton East was developed, but over the years the property fell into disrepair. The property was in a flood zone and didn’t have the resources it needed to be safe for residents. The city and housing commission sought to move all the families living there to safer and more modern homes in the past few years. Many people got housing vouchers, and some moved into the new Clark Commons development, which has 196 refurbished units.
City officials made it clear that the endeavor is about more than just tearing down outdated buildings. The demolition is a step toward restoring safety and dignity for local families, according to Mayor Sheldon Neeley. He said that clearing the land will make room for new beginnings and help the neighborhoods around it that have been afflicted by blight.
The concept for the site includes more than just tearing down old buildings. After the demolition is done, the area will become open green space, which will make it safer and healthier for people who live nearby. The project gets money from the federal Choice Neighborhoods grant program and private donations from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, which has been a partner in Flint’s community development efforts for a long time.
David A. Northern Sr., the CEO of the Flint Housing Commission, said that the project was an important step toward a better future. He said that tearing down the building gets rid of long-term dangers and makes room for future growth. Northern also stressed how important it is for the City of Flint, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and local partners to work together to make sure the project is a success.
The closure of Atherton East marks the end of a hard time in Flint’s history for many people in the area. The apartments used to be a sign of growth in the city, but over time they became a symbol of the problems with old housing and unhealthy living conditions. Leaders want to turn that legacy into one of rejuvenation, safety, and long-term growth in this new phase.
City officials, community partners, and citizens attended the demolition ceremony.