Once known for demoing, Detroit Blight Busters now building housing

Sinceitsstartin1988,DetroitBlightBustershasbeenknownfordemolishingorrenovatingabandonedhouses,cleaningupneighborhoodsandhelpingpatrolthecity’sstreetsagainstarsononwhatwasoncecalled“Devil’sNight.” Lately,followingsignificantimprovementstoDetroit’sblightandarsonsituations,thenonprofitorganizationanditsenergeticcofounder,JohnGeorge,67,havebranchedintolarge-scaleaffordablehousingdevelopment—particularlyprojectsinvolvingfederalLowIncomeHousingTaxCreditsthatarelocatednearBlightBuster’sheadquartersinthecity’snorthwestneighborhoodofOldRedford. Thisspring,anewlyconstructed48-unitdevelopment,OrchardVillageApartments,openedonwhathadbeenvacantlotsat 21665OrchardSt.,justoffGrandRiver,asajointprojectofBlightBustersandthenonprofitCleveland-baseddeveloperCHNHousingPartners. BlightBustersfounderJohnGeorgegivesatourofhisprojectsintheOldRedfordneighborhoodonFriday,Oct.24,2025.Georgerecentlyentere