- Sep 16, 2012
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This is more a victory for red and black anarchists, or true voluntary socialists than anyone else. It's an interesting piece for others as well.
If you have been following government and the market in Detroit since it's financial hardship and it's decline, you would have noticed odd things coming out of the city government. Mostly, less corporate and establishment control and more community control. Small businesses and individual rights are more respected.
Detroit sides with anarchists over developer in land bid
Neighbors claim city officials for years ignored their efforts to buy the side lots
Detroit sides with anarchists over developer in land bid
Pereira responded on Facebook that "These guys could have easily decided to talk to me in person but instead choose this route. Disappointing."
Trumbullplex retorted in a comment: "Previous speculators have had the respect to knock on our doors."
The collectivists expressed frustration in the open letter that its members, along with their neighbor Satterwhite, tried unsuccessfully for years to buy the lots from the city, only to now see the city give prompt attention to a developer's offer.
The Trumbullplex letter said the group had been told to wait for the lots to become available through the Detroit Land Bank Authority. The land bank runs a side-lots program that offers Detroit homeowners who live next to a vacant lot the opportunity to purchase the lot for just $100.
The Trumbull Street lots were never transferred from city ownership to the land bank.
For her part, Satterwhite said she was informed several times over the past 12 years, including from a Detroit City Council member, that the side lot next to her house was unavailable.
"The few of us who have stayed here for all of our lives, we're the last ones to get consideration," she said.
As the land controversy swirled on social media, city officials held a roundtable discussion and Jed Howbert, executive director of the Jobs and the Economy Team in Mayor Mike Duggan's office, made the decision Tuesday to sell the lots to Trumbullplex, according to mayoral spokesman Dan Austin.
The $10,000 deal is still subject to city council approval.
"The bids were the same," Austin said. "And so Jobs and the Economy decided to go with the proposal that had the most community benefit."
If you have been following government and the market in Detroit since it's financial hardship and it's decline, you would have noticed odd things coming out of the city government. Mostly, less corporate and establishment control and more community control. Small businesses and individual rights are more respected.
Detroit sides with anarchists over developer in land bid
Neighbors claim city officials for years ignored their efforts to buy the side lots
Detroit sides with anarchists over developer in land bid
Pereira responded on Facebook that "These guys could have easily decided to talk to me in person but instead choose this route. Disappointing."
Trumbullplex retorted in a comment: "Previous speculators have had the respect to knock on our doors."
The collectivists expressed frustration in the open letter that its members, along with their neighbor Satterwhite, tried unsuccessfully for years to buy the lots from the city, only to now see the city give prompt attention to a developer's offer.
The Trumbullplex letter said the group had been told to wait for the lots to become available through the Detroit Land Bank Authority. The land bank runs a side-lots program that offers Detroit homeowners who live next to a vacant lot the opportunity to purchase the lot for just $100.
The Trumbull Street lots were never transferred from city ownership to the land bank.
For her part, Satterwhite said she was informed several times over the past 12 years, including from a Detroit City Council member, that the side lot next to her house was unavailable.
"The few of us who have stayed here for all of our lives, we're the last ones to get consideration," she said.
As the land controversy swirled on social media, city officials held a roundtable discussion and Jed Howbert, executive director of the Jobs and the Economy Team in Mayor Mike Duggan's office, made the decision Tuesday to sell the lots to Trumbullplex, according to mayoral spokesman Dan Austin.
The $10,000 deal is still subject to city council approval.
"The bids were the same," Austin said. "And so Jobs and the Economy decided to go with the proposal that had the most community benefit."
