Detroit Blight Authority demolition

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(Gallery by Khalil AlHajal | kalhajal@mlive.com)

DETROIT, MI -- The Detroit Blight Authority on Thursday released aerial photos displaying the difference made by a pilot project that demolished vacant structures and cleared debris in a 10-block area.

Panoramic of St. Aubin & Wilkins St. (Click on image to view larger)

Residents saw a swift and mysterious cleanup of the blighted area near Eastern Market this month, and the new nonprofit says more of that is coming.

The authority is a group formed by Bill Pulte of Pulte Homes, who pulled together a powerful group of entities to throw money and resources at the city's massive blight problem, with tens of thousands of vacant structures waiting to be torn down.

Bing and Pulte reveal Detroit Blight Authority pilot project on adjacent Eastern Market 10-block land clear 22 Gallery: Bing and Pulte reveal Detroit Blight Authority pilot project on adjacent Eastern Market 10-block land clear

"They are going to make a significant difference in how we’re going to fix the city of Detroit," said Mayor Dave Bing in a press conference Thursday morning.

Pulte said the authority is establishing ways to demolish homes at lower costs and a faster pace.

“If we take this model and duplicate it across the city you will vuickly see a change in landscape," said Pulte.

Bill Pulte is the grandson of William Pulte, chairman of home building giant Pulte Homes.

“We want to do the whole city. We don’t want to do just one area... It could take five years," said William Pulte.

More:

Detroit Blight Authority cuts cost of demolition nearly in half as it looks to clean up the city | MLive.com

Follow Khalil AlHajal on Twitter @DetroitKhalil or on Facebook at Detroit Khalil. He can be reached at kalhajal@mlive.com or 313-643-0527.