A Grand Rapids neighborhood off Michigan Avenue is undergoing what they call "urban revitalization"--in other words it's being torn down for a new subdivision with a ritzier sounding name (MidTowne Village in this case).

Everyone for the most part has moved out and the houses have fallen into further disrepair.

This house on Union street was a Habitat for Humanity house. I talked to two residents of a house down the street who said that four Habitat guys came with sledgehammers to strip the building of materials. All thats left is pretty much a frame, some flooring, and a lot of insulation.

People at this house, feeling selling their house would be selling a part of their heritage, decided they'd rather burn their house down.

The stove sits in what used to be a kitchen. In the background, you can see that the siding on the neighboring house melted from the heat.

Oddly enough, across Michigan Avenue and down a little ways are houses like this

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