Crews begin to demolish vacant properties in Milwaukee as part of 'Raze and Revive' initiative

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- City of Milwaukee leaders announced one of the first city-owned vacant properties to be demolished as part of the 'Raze and Revive' initiative on Monday. 

"Abandoned, boarded up homes in Milwaukee, they diminish neighborhoods, they drag down property values, and quite frankly, they need to come down," said Mayor Cavalier Johnson at a press conference Monday morning. 

Officials tore down a home located on N. 26th Street after being abandoned for over a decade after facing foreclosure. Multiple attempts were made to try to save the property -- at one point, even trying to sell it for as low as $3,000.

"I know I couldn't' imagine walking out of my door every day and looking across the street or next door to me to a home that, for years, has sat there blighted and deteriorating," said District 6 Alderwoman Milele Coggs.

The Raze and Revive initiative began more than four months ago, with a goal of increasing public safety and creating new opportunities for housing while attempting to shrink the backlog of abandoned properties, dating back to the housing crisis of 2008, that were previously only dealt with by private companies.

"I want city government to prevent homes from deteriorating to the point of demolition, and if demolition is inevitable, to prioritize redevelopment that strengthens neighborhoods," added Mayor Johnson. 

The city aims to acquire and demolish 90 vacant properties, and another 90 will be dealt with by private companies.

"The problems that exist on a block emanate from a boarded up, vacant, delipidated home, whether it's the crime that emanates from it or the fear that crime will happen as a result of it, or people's concern about their own property values and quality of life," said Ald. Coggs.

City officials said they doubled the budget for the initiative this year, allocating a total of $4.8 million.