Hamtramck, Highland Park Fight Blight With Help From 'Blexting' Citizens, Possible Grant
HAMTRAMCK (WWJ) -- Over 13,000 pieces of property are being surveyed in two Metro Detroit communities in an effort to fight blight.
Motor City Mapping is working with the cities of Hamtramck and Highland Park in a "blexting" campaign, which is texting photos of blight in neighborhoods.
Kathy Angerer with the city of Hamtramck says $75 million has been made available by the state to fund blight removal efforts, and the city has been selected to apply for some of that money.
"The goal in Hamtramck is a safe and clean Hamtramck and anything we can do to put more tools in our toolbox to do that, we appreciate," Angerer said. "Motor City Mapping is one part of the equation."
In order to ensure those goals are met, both Hamtramck and Highland Park hired 20 professionals to survey the neighborhoods, while asking the public to help through the "blexting" campaign.
According to Motor City Mapping, "Phase One" of the project saw 150 Detroiters survey the entire city, capturing photography and condition information for every property.
[For more information and how to participate, visit www.motorcitymapping.org.]
