Wayne County seminar to focus strategies, successes for rehabbing nuisance properties

This evening, the Wayne County Nuisance Abatement Program (NAP) will host its second annual RAP with NAP forum. The event will, as it did last year, explain NAP's history and how it works.

If a vacant property is ultimately deemed a nuisance by NAP, the county will first work with the owner to either rehab the property or sell it to someone that will. As a last resort, title is awarded to the county and a new owner is sought.

A new element at this year's RAP includes the Wayne County Community Renaissance Award, which will be given to five rehabilitation projects that were targeted by NAP lawsuits. The awards will be given to three residential property owners, the owner of a commercial building near the University of Detroit Mercy (pictured) and Bagley Housing Association, for its restoration of an entire block of the Hubbard-Richard neighborhood.

NAP attorney Michael Russell says the five awardees did "exemplary" jobs on their properties. "When people see the 'before' and 'after' pictures, they say, "Wow!' "

Other speakers will include Regina Strong from the Community Development Advocates of Detroit, who will discuss community initiatives that work in tandem with NAP, and Police Inspector Leslie Montgomery, who will share tactics to help neighborhoods prevent vacant properties from becoming nuisance properties.

The event begins at 5:30 p.m. in the atrium of the Wayne County Building. Russell anticipates 100 to 150 attendees.

For more information about NAP, contact Russell at 313-967-2203 or [email protected].

Source: Michael Russell, Wayne County
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh

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