Bustin’ blight in Shiawassee County: Countywide program brings down derelict building in downtown Owosso

What’s happening: Blight busters in Shiawassee County are celebrating the latest success story to result from a countywide blight elimination program. The demolition of a derelict building in downtown Owosso began earlier this month as county leaders stressed that blight can be as much a rural problem as it is the often more publicized urban one.

When it was: Built in 1907, the building at 117 W. Exchange St. in downtown Owosso had its fate sealed in June 2023 when officials “red-tagged” the building and declared it officially unsafe due to severe structural failure. Reasons cited include a collapsed roof with compromised first and second floors.

Why it’s important: “You hear a lot of talk about blight in the bigger cities, but there’s also blight in smaller towns,” says Justin Horvath, president and CEO of the Shiawassee Economic Development Partnership. “Projects like this one on Exchange Street demonstrate exactly what’s possible when local government partners together with state resources to tackle problems head-on. We’re not just tearing down a dangerous building – we’re investing in the future of our downtown and our community.”

How it’s happening: The $178,000 demolition of the blighted building is funded through the State Land Bank Authority’s Blight Elimination Program, which itself was funded by state appropriation funds and President Biden’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021. The Shiawassee County Board of Commissioners established the Shiawassee County Land Bank Authority (SCLBA) in 2021, tasking the authority with its own countywide blight elimination program. The SCLBA has since won $1.477 million in blight removal funding for projects in communities throughout the county.

What they’re saying: “This is exactly the kind of community-driven partnership that the Blight Elimination Program was designed to support,” says Greg Brodeur, Chair of the Shiawassee County Board of Commissioners and SCLBA board member. “Each project we complete removes a hazard, improves surrounding property values, and sends a clear signal that Shiawassee County is serious about its future.”