Blight to Beauty Program

The City of Detroit's Blight to Beauty initiative is focused on fourteen commercial corridors across the city: Grand River, Gratiot, Harper, Jefferson, Livernois, Mack, McNichols, Michigan, Mt. Elliot, Seven Mile, Van Dyke, Vernor, Warren and Woodward and is led by Katrina Crawley, Assistant Director of Blight Remediation in the General Services Department.

Our work unites and highlights city efforts that support and improve the appearance of our built environment. Our goal is to transform the city from blight to beauty by applying enforcement, remediation and maintenance in order to protect the health, safety and dignity of our citizens.

It is important that all property owners, including the city itself, comply with property maintenance code, so that everyone understands the responsibilities that come with ownership. Property owners are responsible for maintaining the area from the center of the street to the center of the alley. The public easements in the alleys and between the road and the sidewalk are not maintained by the city, although the city and public utilities have permission to work in those areas.

Property owners of commercial buildings are responsible for the upkeep ranging from the center of the alley, to the center of the street. Image courtesy of City of Detroit

One key point is something that Walt Disney stressed for his businesses – the idea that "Everything Speaks." People may not consciously notice every detail, but subconscious clues are communicated. When you consider our homes and businesses, what are these properties saying?

We can't do this alone! We ask all property owners, residents, visitors, organizations, and businesses: What are YOU doing to help move Detroit from blight to beauty?