More
- Classifieds
- Cars
- Deals
- Real Estate
- Rentals
- Photos
- Find&Save
- Obituaries
- Archives
- Topics
- Blogs
- WP Wine Club

In the News

Cleveland could hold the future of the foreclosure crisis: Demolition

Four years into this city’s housing crisis, it has often become cheaper for banks to give away a home and pay to demolish it than continue to hold on. And places across the country are watching.

5 Seconds

00:00

00:00

Oct. 5, 2011

A house on Pontiac Street in the Cleveland area, about an hour before it was demolished. The task of plowing under the homes rests with the Cuyahoga County Land Revitalization Corp., which sprang from a 2009 state law aimed at creating so-called land banks to acquire unwanted properties and attempt to put them to better use.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

The rubble of the house on Pontiac Street taken just after it was demolished. With as many as 15,000 vacant and abandoned structures remaining in the city and more on the way, the job at the current pace could take longer than a decade and cost $250 million.

Oct. 5, 2011

The rubble of the house on Pontiac Street taken just after it was demolished. With as many as 15,000 vacant and abandoned structures remaining in the city and more on the way, the job at the current pace could take longer than a decade and cost $250 million.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

A foreclosed Cleveland apartment building that was deemed beyond repair is demolished. The Cuyahoga land bank officials expect to complete about 700 demolitions by the end of the year.

Oct. 4, 2011

A foreclosed Cleveland apartment building that was deemed beyond repair is demolished. The Cuyahoga land bank officials expect to complete about 700 demolitions by the end of the year.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

The house on Pontiac Street is demolished. Water is sprayed on the dwelling to keep the dust down. The banks that own the properties often pay for the razing, as much as $7,500 per property.

Oct. 5, 2011

The house on Pontiac Street is demolished. Water is sprayed on the dwelling to keep the dust down. The banks that own the properties often pay for the razing, as much as $7,500 per property.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

The remains of a razed home owned by the Cuyahoga County land bank.

Oct. 5, 2011

The remains of a razed home owned by the Cuyahoga County land bank.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

Tom Hennessy brushes off tile to see whether it might be worth saving during a demolition in Cleveland. Hennessy, who works for a company called A Piece of Cleveland, deconstructs derelict homes and buildings, salvaging wood, tile and brick before they are demolished.

Oct. 5, 2011

Tom Hennessy brushes off tile to see whether it might be worth saving during a demolition in Cleveland. Hennessy, who works for a company called A Piece of Cleveland, deconstructs derelict homes and buildings, salvaging wood, tile and brick before they are demolished.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

Maggie Leighty, left, and Frances Fuchs watch as a home across the street is demolished in Cleveland. They both agreed that they were glad to see the home torn down as it was hurting property values in the neighborhood.

Oct. 5, 2011

Maggie Leighty, left, and Frances Fuchs watch as a home across the street is demolished in Cleveland. They both agreed that they were glad to see the home torn down as it was hurting property values in the neighborhood.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

In some parts of Cleveland, the lots where derelict homes were torn down are being reused as community garden plots.

Oct. 5, 2011

In some parts of Cleveland, the lots where derelict homes were torn down are being reused as community garden plots.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

Gus Frangos, president of the Cuyahoga County land bank, points to a map of Cleveland that shows the more than 15,000 properties, represented by red dots, that suffered foreclosure and have to be dealt with. Many will be demolished under a special program to get rid of blight.

Oct. 5, 2011

Gus Frangos, president of the Cuyahoga County land bank, points to a map of Cleveland that shows the more than 15,000 properties, represented by red dots, that suffered foreclosure and have to be dealt with. Many will be demolished under a special program to get rid of blight.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

This is part of an entire block of homes and apartments on Lockwood Avenue that will eventually be torn down.

Oct. 5, 2011

This is part of an entire block of homes and apartments on Lockwood Avenue that will eventually be torn down.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

Joe Cahill covers his mouth with his sweatshirt as dust flies in his face when a backhoe being operated by his father, Gerald Cahill, begins tearing down an abandoned house.

Oct. 5, 2011

Joe Cahill covers his mouth with his sweatshirt as dust flies in his face when a backhoe being operated by his father, Gerald Cahill, begins tearing down an abandoned house.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

The interior of a kitchen in a home in South Euclid, a suburb of Cleveland, shortly before it was demolished. Cleveland's program has garnered attention; New York has passed a similar measure, and other laws are in the works in Georgia, Philadelphia and elsewhere.

Oct. 5, 2011

The interior of a kitchen in a home in South Euclid, a suburb of Cleveland, shortly before it was demolished. Cleveland's program has garnered attention; New York has passed a similar measure, and other laws are in the works in Georgia, Philadelphia and elsewhere.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

Gerald Cahill, left, and his son Joe Cahill flinch as dust flies in their faces as they open an attic window to access the roof for tile removal. They were doing prep work before the house was demolished.

Oct. 5, 2011

Gerald Cahill, left, and his son Joe Cahill flinch as dust flies in their faces as they open an attic window to access the roof for tile removal. They were doing prep work before the house was demolished.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

Tom Hennessy, who salvages parts of derelict homes before they are demolished, found letters and postcards from the 1940s behind the fireplace in one home.

Oct. 5, 2011

Tom Hennessy, who salvages parts of derelict homes before they are demolished, found letters and postcards from the 1940s behind the fireplace in one home.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

Beverly Crim, 77, walks to her car as an apartment building across the street from her house is razed.

Oct. 5, 2011

Beverly Crim, 77, walks to her car as an apartment building across the street from her house is razed.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

Beverly Crim, 77, watches as an apartment building across the street from her house is razed. She said that it was sad to watch the neighborhood deteriorate over the years but that she was pleased to see the long-abandoned buildings on her block torn down.

Oct. 5, 2011

Beverly Crim, 77, watches as an apartment building across the street from her house is razed. She said that it was sad to watch the neighborhood deteriorate over the years but that she was pleased to see the long-abandoned buildings on her block torn down.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

Tom Hennessy works on deconstructing a home.

Oct. 5, 2011

Tom Hennessy works on deconstructing a home.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

Gerald Cahill, left, and J.J. Bojman work to remove asbestos tiles before beginning demolition on an abandoned home.

Oct. 5, 2011

Gerald Cahill, left, and J.J. Bojman work to remove asbestos tiles before beginning demolition on an abandoned home.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

After being unemployed, Melvin Scott, left, and Yanko Mansaray ended up getting work for a contractor that strips homes of recyclable items such as wood, brick and tile before the building is demolished.

Oct. 5, 2011

After being unemployed, Melvin Scott, left, and Yanko Mansaray ended up getting work for a contractor that strips homes of recyclable items such as wood, brick and tile before the building is demolished.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

Gerald Cahill prepares to enter an abandoned home to do prep work before demolition. The home is sprayed with water to minimize dust.

Oct. 5, 2011

Gerald Cahill prepares to enter an abandoned home to do prep work before demolition. The home is sprayed with water to minimize dust.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

Pedestrians walk past a fence surrounding several buildings that are slated for demolition. In the background are vacant lots where homes that were already demolished once stood. Old industrial cities such as Cleveland risk hollowing out parts of their urban core if there is too much demolition. So land banks aim to be strategic about where demolitions take place, often trying to cluster them in 'target areas' as part of efforts to stabilize neighborhoods.

Oct. 5, 2011

Pedestrians walk past a fence surrounding several buildings that are slated for demolition. In the background are vacant lots where homes that were already demolished once stood. Old industrial cities such as Cleveland risk hollowing out parts of their urban core if there is too much demolition. So land banks aim to be strategic about where demolitions take place, often trying to cluster them in "target areas" as part of efforts to stabilize neighborhoods.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

FEATURED PHOTO GALLERIES

epa03708924 Franziska (C) wears a helmet and carries a shield during the recreation of The Battle of the Teutoburg Museum in Bramsche, Germany, 20 May 2013. The everyday life of Romans and the Germanic people is depicted at Museum Park Kalkriese during the Romans and Germanic people days. EPA/Friso Gentsch

Photos of the day

Battle of Teutoburg Forest reenactment, Mars Curiosity rover drilling, massive tornado strikes Moore, Oklahoma and more.

A Burrowing owl tries to perch on a protective rope in a public park in Cooper City, Fla. Monday, May 20, 2013 as rain falls. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

Fun and fascinating creatures around the world.

ANNAPOLIS, MD - MAY 20: The Herndon Monument Climb is the traditional culmination of plebe year at the United States Naval Academy. The plebes climb to the top of the lard-covered 21 foot high monument and remove the 'dixie cup' hat at the top replacing it with an upperclassman's hat. After completing this, the freshmen are called 'fourth class midshipmen.' This class completed the task in 1 hour 32 minutes and 43 seconds. The hat was placed by Patrick Lien from Orlando. (Photo by Sarah L. Voisin/The Washington Post)

The Herndon Climb

The Herndon Monument climb is the traditional culmination of plebe year at the U.S. Naval Academy.

MOORE, UNITED STATES: Joey Dean displays some two dozen eggs he found among the remains of his friend Lee Tesney's house in Moore, OK, 06 May 1999. Official sources indicated that 41 people died and more than 500 people were injured in what was classified as an F5 tornado, the most severe type of tornado, with winds of more than 250 miles per hour which ravaged the southern Oklahoma City region 03 May. (ELECTRONIC IMAGE) AFP PHOTO/Hector MATA (Photo credit should read HECTOR MATA/AFP/Getty Images)

Okla. tornado loosely followed path of 1999 twister

Monday’s powerful tornado in suburban Oklahoma City loosely followed the path of a killer twister that slammed the area in May 1999.

Lea Bessinger salvages a picture of Jesus as she and her son Josh Bessinger sort through the rubble of the elder Bessinger's tornado-ravaged home Tuesday, May 21, 2013, in Moore, Okla. A huge tornado roared through the Oklahoma City suburb Monday, flattening an entire neighborhoods and destroying an elementary school with a direct blow as children and teachers huddled against winds. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Tornado near Oklahoma City causes more damage

Rescue workers are searching for survivors after a twister carved a long path of destruction in a suburb of Oklahoma City. It was part of the...

FILE - In this undated publicity file photo, members of the Doors, from left, John Densmore, Robbie Krieger, Ray Manzarek and Jim Morrison, pose for a portrait. Manzarek, the keyboardist who was a founding member of The Doors, has died at 74. Publicist Heidi Robinson-Fitzgerald says in a news release that Manzarek died Monday, May 20, 2013, at the RoMed Clinic in Rosenheim, Germany, surrounded by his family. (AP Photo, File)

Ray Manzarek, founding member of the Doors, dies at 74

Manzarek co-founded the Doors after meeting then-poet Jim Morrison in California. The band went on to become one of the most successful rock-and-roll...

US actress Rosario Dawson smiles on May 20, 2013 as she arrives for the screening of the film 'Wara No Tate' (Shield of Straw) presented in Competition at the 66th edition of the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes. Cannes, one of the world's top film festivals, opened on May 15 and will climax on May 26 with awards selected by a jury headed this year by Hollywood legend Steven Spielberg. AFP PHOTO / ALBERTO PIZZOLIALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP/Getty Images

Eye on entertainment

Rosario Dawson, Alec Baldwin, Michael Douglas, Matt Damon, Bow Wow, Amy Poehler and more.

A man walks on sulphur and mineral salt formations near Dallol in the Danakil Depression, northern Ethiopia April 22, 2013. The Danakil Depression in Ethiopia is one of the hottest and harshest environments on earth, with an average annual temperature of 94 degrees Fahrenheit (34.4 Celsius). For centuries, merchants have travelled there with caravans of camels to collect salt from the surface of the vast desert basin. The mineral is extracted and shaped into slabs, then loaded onto the animals before being transported back across the desert so that it can be sold around the country. Picture taken April 22, 2013. REUTERS/Siegfried Modola (ETHIOPIA - Tags: BUSINESS SOCIETY TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)

ATTENTION EDITORS: PICTURE 2 OF 30 FOR PACKAGE 'ETHIOPIA'S ANCIENT SALT TRAIL'
SEARCH 'DANAKIL DEPRESSION' FOR ALL

Ethiopia’s salt trail

For centuries, merchants have traveled to Ethiopia’s Danakil Depression with caravans of camels to collect salt from the surface of the vast desert basin. The mineral is extracted...

Back to Previous Gallery

Discussion Policy | FAQ | About Discussions

Loading...

Comments

Add your comment

Read what others are saying About Badges

SuperFan Badge

SuperFan badge holders consistently post smart, timely comments about Washington area sports and teams.

More about badges | Request a badge

Culture Connoisseur Badge

Culture Connoisseurs consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on the arts, lifestyle and entertainment.

More about badges | Request a badge

Fact Checker Badge

Fact Checkers contribute questions, information and facts to The Fact Checker.

More about badges | Request a badge

Washingtologist Badge

Washingtologists consistently post thought-provoking, timely comments on events, communities, and trends in the Washington area.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Writer Badge

This commenter is a Washington Post editor, reporter or producer.

Post Forum Badge

Post Forum members consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on politics, national and international affairs.

More about badges | Request a badge

Weather Watcher Badge

Weather Watchers consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on climates and forecasts.

More about badges | Request a badge

World Watcher Badge

World Watchers consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on international affairs.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Contributor Badge

This commenter is a Washington Post contributor. Post contributors aren’t staff, but may write articles or columns. In some cases, contributors are sources or experts quoted in a story.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Recommended

Washington Post reporters or editors recommend this comment or reader post.

You must be logged in to report a comment.

Comments our editors find particularly useful or relevant are displayed in Top Comments, as are comments by users with these badges: . Replies to those posts appear here, as well as posts by staff writers.

All comments are posted in the All Comments tab.

More about badges

Get a badge

To pause and restart automatic updates, click "Live" or "Paused". If paused, you'll be notified of the number of additional comments that have come in.

Comments our editors find particularly useful or relevant are displayed in Top Comments, as are comments by users with these badges: . Replies to those posts appear here, as well as posts by staff writers.