Detroit 2020: Blight

I went to Wilkins Elementary School, graduating 8th grade in 1956. At age 10, I started working on a Twin Pines Dairy milk truck on the way to sschool getting dropped off a block or two from school and running the rest of the way. I still have movie footage of my graduation from Wilkins. Great memories from that time in Detroit. Back then, every house was full and life was good.

Mr. Danto seems to be the only one in Detroit who cares enough to do something. This guy should be the mayor.

I used to live in Windsor and work in Detroit. I spent some time exploring the abandoned areas of the city. Detroit was once so prosperous and it's very sad to see these beautiful buildings vandalized, stripped and destroyed. It always baffled me that the city did not reach out to recycling and repurposing companies. The banisters, moldings, woodwork and stonework in these buildings are historic and gorgeous. I'm sure many companies and individuals (myself included) would pay for an opportunity to repurpose and refinish these pieces and install them in homes where they would continue to be appreciated. Instead, they are destroyed by vandals, stolen by thieves, or left to rot. Let's be honest. The city had no intention to save that school or repurpose those lockers, etc, but they could have had a public auction. At least then the city might have profited. At the very least, some history might have been saved.

Too little, too late. RIP Detroit.

I wonder why things are the way they are in Detroit. Must be the people in charge.

Thank god for Mr. Danto!! Praying for the safety of those children and more people to get involve to keep them safe.

city cant find the owner. but can find them to pay the Property tax ?

Coleman Young was the final nail in the coffin.

The city needs to make owners pay to have their own abandoned properties torn down...

I went to this school. 45 years ago.

Danto should be in charge of the city.

Love that city, totally heartbreaking to see this, sad ain't the word..

That school was a beautiful piece of architecture!

I live in Sterling Heights and I will buy my furniture from Donto now

I graduated HS in Detroit 1980....it was the same back then. This is nothing new

i understood at one point,neighbors who would mow overgrown yards of other properties would get ticketed by the city.detroit worse enemy is itself.building inspectors,neighborhood directors all get paid but the volunteers do all the work.

Why does it cost 10.000 to demolish those old houses. Whoever is demolishing those houses is overcharging the city

Danto job well done. I support you 100%.

Would cost more to bored that up, WTF! Theres people who would demolish that for the fun of it

All these vid's are 5 years old. Where's the UPDATE?