Detroiter Doesn't Want to Move from His Lonely Block

DETROIT (WJBK) - Mayor Dave Bing has been pushing a plan to downsize Detroit, urging the shrinking population to move closer together. There are many blocks with only one or two homes occupied. These streets only underscore the problem.

Delta is a short block on Detroit's near east side. After years of decline and a population exodus, there is now only one occupied home on the block. Richard Bryant, a Kentucky native, has lived there for 18 years.

"It's peaceful now. Everybody's gone. We're the last ones here beside the crackheads," he said.

Bryant and his wife remain in their home surrounded by those abandoned. He says most of the abandoned houses in the neighborhood end up becoming dope houses at one time or another.

Arson fires plague the neighborhood. That's as the city studies plans to reconfigure its land use. Providing government services to sparsely populated areas is costly.

Bryant plans to stay.

"I'm here until the house burns or if I die or whatever," he said. "What could I buy this house at in the suburbs? It'd cost me probably ... $150,000, $200,000."

The city is looking at ways to encourage people from areas like Delta to move to more populated neighborhoods.

"The mayor's talking ... the wrong thing. How can you do it? You've got 50,000 people who are going to have to move, right? I'm sure that's how many people [are] left scattered. Where are they going to go, downtown? There [is] no way," said Bryant.

Despite the challenges, this is home from Bryant.