Blight Busters celebrates revitalized block in Old Redford

Alicia Marion was beaming when she described the scene on a city block in northwest Detroit Friday night. "It was like we had life pumped back into us," she said. "People almost didn't know where they were. Like we could have been in Birmingham or Chicago. It was beautiful. Just beautiful."

Friday night was also Angels' Night, the night before Halloween when, up until recent years, insanity ruled by way of torched buildings and mayhem.

But that madness was a distant memory at Blight Busters headquarters on Lahser just north of Grand River. About 500 volunteers had been fed dinner and then headed out to patrol the city. At the same time, this once mostly vacant city block in Old Redford held grand opening celebrations for six new businesses. Later into the night, a poetry and performance event was held at Artist Village, a studio and gallery.

Marion, the owner of Motor City Java House, said of Blight Busters head John George: "John always said he wanted to see a traffic jam at Grand River and Lasher. Friday night we got our traffic jam!"

George was also joyful. "The night was a complete success. Not only did we have an opportunity to keep our city safe, but to also celebrate the opening of these businesses is very exciting," he said.

Detroit Mayor Dave Bing said Monday at a press conference that the total number of fires for Angels' Night weekend was down 12 percent.

"The statistics show that when our community comes together for a common cause we can take back the streets," Bing said.

Citing numbers from the Detroit Fire Department, Bing said there was a total of 119 fires this year, down from 136 in 2008.

Anybody who thinks taking back the streets is just words ought to visit Blight Busters, a nonprofit dedicated to eliminating blight by demolishing, restoring and building new houses and buildings. George is an eternal optimist whose hallmark is perseverance and boundless energy.

Blight Buster's headquarters is kitty-cornered to Artist Village, also on Lahser. When the former Masonic Lodge building was slated for demolition in 1994, George bought the 21,000-square-foot building from the city for $1.

Today it's command central for more than 10,000 volunteers. Over 18 years, the organization says it has boarded up and secured 379 abandoned buildings, renovated 176 houses and built 114 new ones to make suitable housing for 1,160 people.

Artist Village was a five-year dream in the making. It is now the hub of a thriving community of 14 businesses. On Friday night, city and suburban dwellers strolled down the city block taking part in the festivities surrounding the openings of Sweet Potato Sensations, a bakery and restaurant; Federal Recycler, a computer repair and resale shop; Lahser Sew and Vac, a sewing machine and vacuum repair store; Complete Finish, a furniture refinishing company; Simply Divine, a bakery; and the village's centerpiece, the Motor City Java House. Several people were also attending the annual "Three Stooges" film fest at the Redford Theatre.

Says George: "This is what happens when you find people with talent, focus and drive and help them get what they need to carry out their dreams. It's a law of nature -- when you give, you get."

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