GRAND RAPIDS – Findings from an internal investigation by the Kent County Land Bank authority were released this week, and the study’s conclusions were welcome news to county officials.

“I’m just very pleased with the results of this, I have always felt good about the work that we do, and it’s really nice to have it validated,” Ken Parrish, the Kent County Treasurer and Kent County Land Bank Authority Board Chair said.

DETROIT—For the past year, Clement Wright has driven into the Marygrove neighborhood before and after his night shifts at Chrysler to reclaim a small piece of the city where he has spent his whole life. While his friends texted him sunny vacation pictures from the Florida Keys, Wright, 62, spent much of his non-working life tearing down walls, laying bricks, installing electrical outlets, sanding, tiling, nailing, molding and painting.

KALAMAZOO - The Kalamazoo County Land Bank is planning to raise $2.5 million for eight 600-1,000-square-foot, 1-2 bedroom homes on Foresman Avenue off East Michigan Avenue. After hosting multiple public open houses, draft designs are being put together in anticipation of a fundraising campaign and construction to begin in fall 2018.

Kalamazoo’s Eastside neighborhood has been economically challenged for years. Several condemned or blighted homes at the site of the planned development were demolished in the last decade. One was associated with meth activity.