Sturgis receives blight elimination grant

A $50,000 blight-elimination grant from the state and nearly $14,000 in Sturgis city funding will pay to demolish three deteriorated, single-family homes this year.
The properties, located at 103 St. Joseph St., 116 S. Orange St. and 303 S. Fourth St., have structural issues that officials said represent safety hazards and negatively affect neighborhood property values.
Fire damage and lack of maintenance are blamed for dilapidated conditions at the properties. They have had no utility services for one to three years, said city manager Mike Hughes.
The city acquired the properties after they were forfeited for unpaid property taxes. Commissioners toured the structures Wednesday, prior to taking action at their regular business meeting to have them razed.
Sturgis was one of 19 Michigan communities to share $1 million from the Michigan Land Bank Fast Track Authority to combat blight. According to Hughes, Sturgis’ request was among 41 applications submitted statewide, requesting grants totaling $3.4 million.