Abandoned Shelter of the Week

Unlike many of the places visited by our Abandoned Structure Squad, this little house at 18162 Heyden St. is not an eyesore. Sitting in the middle of a quiet neighborhood, it is so inconspicuous ASS drove right past it at first. Aside from a broken front window and overgrown backyard, the home, built in 1940, looks like any other house on the block. But it has been vacant since the city evicted its inhabitants four to five years ago, says Chris, a neighbor who declined to give ASS his last name.

“Nobody ever went to the house to clean it up,” says Antonio Young, whose aunt was one of the evicted tenants. Young has been trying to buy the place, but says he’s been getting the “runaround” from the city.

City records indicate that Trans-World Investments owns the house. Trans-World’s president, Nathan Johnson, whose name Young found on the property’s deed, says he is no longer the owner. “I’m sure we don’t own it,” he says. “The city took it over."

Editor’s note: If you know of an abandoned home you would like to see featured in this spot, send a photo and pertinent information to News Hits, c/o Metro Times, 733 St. Antoine, Detroit, MI 48226 (or e-mail [email protected]).

Check out all of our Abandoned Shelters of the Week