Elrick investigates city’s demolition program after house should have been knocked down months ago

(WJBK) -

Demolition in Detroit is no laughing matter - thousands of abandoned homes and buildings need to be knocked down, but the city's inability to remove the blighted housing stock has made it a laughingstock to some.

John Robinson moved next door to a house that was already burned out and abandoned, but he figured everything would be okay because the city of Detroit had been paid to demolish it, per a notice Robinson spotted on the front door of the abandoned house.

Unfortunately, Detroit officials say there wasn't enough money to do the job and told Fox 2's M.L. Elrick in July they'd try to find a way to get it knocked down still. Five months later - still no avail - and M.L. goes looking for answers.

VIDEO: Click on the video player above to watch M.L.'s report, or read the story below _____________

ELRICK: Hey, David Bell. M.L. Elrick, Fox 2. Did you ever hear the story about the house that got paid to be knocked down, but never got knocked down?

BELL: I'm not sure what you're talking about.

By day Dave Bell runs the city's demolition program. By night he's been known to do a little standup comedy.

But there's nothing funny about this story -- even though it's a farce.

ROBINSON: We were really blessed to be able to find this home. Then you look over here.

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Elrick investigates city's demolition program after house should have been knocked down months ago