Snyder Home Tear-Down Plan Gets Help From Family That Built Homes

Bill Pulte, the 24-year-old grandson of William Pulte, the founder of Pulte Homes, got involved in Gov. Rick Snyder's blight blitz after he read a Free Press series called "Danger Zone," Carol Cain writes in the Free Press today.

"Danger Zone" dealt with young people fearing for their lives as they walked past abandoned homes on their way to school.

He is spearheading an advisory panel made up of Michigan executives counseling the Snyder administration on ways to affordably and effectively tear down homes.

One of the most interesting aspects of the plan is the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers donation of technology used after Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans to be part of Detroit's blight-busting effort. Pulte helped in that effort.

That technology, which included an app,  will provide specifics about each home. It will also allow officials to look at a neighborhood and see where blighted homes are. Firefighters and police officers will know the condition of homes before they arrive.

Deadline Detroit broke the story about Snyder's unprecedented project, which will be announced Aug. 2. To read it, click here.