Director's Corner: Wayne County Nuisance Abatement Program Celebrates 10 Year Anniversary

On Oct. 8, Wayne County's Nuisance Abatement Program celebrated its tenth anniversary at its annual event, "Rap with NAP." In addition to its anniversary, Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano and the Nuisance Abatement team celebrated the efforts of Wayne County property owners, Percy Ramsey and Fred and Virginia Hill, by awarding them with the Renaissance Award for the successful rehabilitation of their formerly vacant, blighted properties. An award was also given to Mike Duggan, former Prosecutor and current CEO of the Detroit Medical Center, who founded the Nuisance Abatement Program back in 1999.

After being identified by NAP lawsuits, Mr. Ramsey and the Hills transformed vacant, damaged and dangerous properties into significantly improved homes that are exemplary in their neighborhoods. These efforts support the goal of NAP, which hopes to attract development and growth in Wayne County. NAP prides itself on improving the quality of life for our citizens, where people want to live, work, play and raise their families.

Over the ten years of NAP's existence, the communities of Wayne County have experienced huge changes in fortune. They have enjoyed growth and prosperity as well as the trauma of unemployment and economic decline. In recent years, the number of abandoned properties and the rate of their decline have increased dramatically. At the same time, the solutions available to address these concerns have expanded.

NAP has responded to our changing economic landscape by offering different solutions to address blight in our neighborhoods. At a time when Southeast Michigan has more unoccupied properties than ever before, Wayne County is collaborating with municipalities, community organizations and schools in the strategic management of this land through NAP. Along with the Wayne County Land Bank and our various Community Development programs, Wayne County is providing our cities and nonprofits with the resources they need to take a holistic approach to improve the health of our communities, and through dedicated citizens like Fred and Virginia Hill and Percy Ramsey, together, we can build better neighborhoods for our residents and future generations.  

Turkia Awada Mullin is the Chief Development Officer for Wayne County's Economic Development Growth Engine (EDGE)