Detroit Voters Approved Prop N. Now What?

In late October, Detroit Today’s Stephen Henderson looked into Prop N, a city-led initiative to borrow $250 million dollars in bonds to eliminate blight throughout the city. The measure, which was approved by a wide margin last month, aims to demolish some 8,000 homes and to rehab approximately 6,000 others. Needless to say, it’s a significant undertaking, and now the real work begins as city officials move forward on the ambitious project.

Listen: City of Detroit Housing and Development Official Arthur Jemison talks next steps for Prop N

Guest:

Arthur Jemison is Group Executive for Planning, Housing and Development for the City of Detroit.

“We really appreciate the confidence of the electorate… I like to think it had something to do with the proposal… we are thrilled about it and excited to begin the implementation,” says Jemison about the 71% approval rating of Prop N. As far as the timeline of rolling out the project, “the first things we’ve been focused on are governance issues” says Jemison, who says he and others are working to create the necessary internal organizational infrastructure. One primary focus, according to Jemison, having City Council recommend individuals to be on the city’s new Neighborhood Improvement Advisory Committee.

Jemison says he’s also working hard to ensure that demolitions will be done with greater transparency moving forward. One of the ways he says that will happen is through greater involvement of City Council members with this new demolition effort.