9 ways scrappers are destroying Detroit area

5. Fire stations

Most of the seven fire stations that Mayor Dave Bing closed in 2012 have been ransacked and heavily damaged for scrap metal.

6. Houses

Most vacant houses in Detroit become quick targets for scrapping, which is a death sentence for the home. Scrapped houses are left to rot until they are either burned down or demolished, eating up neighborhoods.

7. Light poles

A big reason many of Detroit’s 88,000 streetlights don’t work is because of scrappers, who tear down light poles for the metal guts.

8. Historic buildings

Metal is metal for many scrappers, who don’t take into consideration the historic value of buildings.

9. Libraries

Two branches of the Detroit Public Library were gutted by scrappers.

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  Abandoned Buildings, bill, Churches, historic buildings, libraries, Schools, scrappers, scrapyards

Steve Neavling

Steve Neavling lives and works in Detroit as an investigative journalist. His stories have uncovered corruption, led to arrests and reforms and prompted FBI investigations.

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