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Flint officials want to demolish apartments at site of fatal shooting
Ron Fonger | rfonger1@mlive.com By Ron Fonger | rfonger1@mlive.com
on August 19, 2014 at 5:30 PM, updated August 19, 2014 at 5:31 PM
FLINT, MI -- City officials want to demolish at least some of the buildings at the Atherton East apartment complex -- the scene of a homicide Monday, Aug. 18 -- partly to help combat the high rate of violent crime there.
Monday's fatal shooting comes seven days after Flint emergency manager Darnell Earley signed a memorandum of understanding with the Flint Housing Commission, which owns the townhouse complex, aimed at relocating at least some of the public housing "to an area that is better connected to transit, services, employment and schools," the city's application for a federal grant says.
Built 47 years ago, Atherton East, and Evergreen Regency apartments, which is located just north of it, were the location for six homicides in 2010-2011, according to the funding request from the city.
"Rampant drug trafficking, shootings and ... violent crimes are exacerbated by (this) remote location, making it difficult for Flint police officers to reach," the city's application says.
Megan Hunter, Flint's director of planning and development, said Tuesday, Aug. 19, that the final plan for Atherton East isn't set in stone but interest in making changes is high among residents, most of whom are single mothers.
Hunter said she believes much of the crime inside the 192-unit property is committed by outsiders and said the city's plans for the property are consistent with the city's new master plan.
"The isolation of that (complex) presents challenges (and) public safety concerns with that kind of isolation," Hunter said.
Police have not released the name of Monday's homicide victim, and have said no witnesses came forward initially.
Hunter said she doesn't expect to find out if the city is awarded a $500,000 planning grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development until early next year.
Up to $3 million could be available for carrying out the plan developed with those planning funds, she said.
In addition to the city of Flint, the Flint Housing Commission also applied for the Atherton East funding.
A partnership memorandum of understanding dated Aug. 8 calls the complex "severely distressed" and says plans will be designed to ensure residents receive relocation assistance, case management and access to self-sufficiency programs. |
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