Condemned Housing
By Tim Pugmire
May 23, 1997

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Federal and city inspectors have begun condemning flood-damaged houses in Grand Forks.

Demolition of the unsafe structures is expected to start within a week. One neighborhood along the bank of the Red River is nearly a total loss, and the line of proposed new dike would prevent any rebuilding there. As the housing losses mount, Grand Forks city officials are looking for ways to provide affordable replacements. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.

A U-S Army Corps of Engineers inspector tapes a pink condemned sign on the window of a house pushed off its foundation and twisted by flood waters. The inspection team moves quickly across the silt covered lawns on Polk Street, tagging most of the houses along the way. The decision to condemn comes easy in this part of town, where houses were either submerged or floating in the swollen river. Structural Engineer Gary Lee says they're making a rapid evaluation based on imminent danger.

A LOT OF THEM ARE HAZARDOUS, FALLING HAZARDS AND WE'RE JUST TRYING TO MOVE THROUGH THIS LINCOLN PARK NEIGHBORHOOD AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE TO GET SOME CONTRACTS DOWN HERE TO START THE DEMOLITION PROCESS. A LOT OF THESE HOUSES, WE'LL SKIP A FEW IF THEY LOOK LIKE MAYBE THEY'RE NOT A SAFETY HAZARD AT THIS TIME, HOWEVER THEY STILL MIGHT BE UNDER FURTHER EVALUATION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT BUT WE'RE GETTING THE OBVIOUS ONES THAT DO NEED TO BE CONDEMNED AND DEMOLISHED AT THIS TIME.

Lee says most of the houses in this neighborhood floated off their foundations during the flood, and the ones that settled back in place were held by electrical wiring or plumbing. He says even the houses that could be repaired probably won't be.

IF YOU FIGURE OUT, BY THE TIME YOU GUT THEM, YOU MOVE THEM PUT A NEW FOUNDATION, PUT THEM BACK ON TOP AND REPLACE THE INTERIOR AND MAYBE SOME OF THE EXTERIOR, IT'S NOT WORTH IT. IT'S PROBABLY CHEAPER TO BUY A NEW HOUSE SOMEWHERE OR BUILD A NEW HOUSE.

But people in Grand Forks have few, if any housing options. The region was short of housing before the flood. City officials plan to use federal disaster relief to buy out many of the damaged houses or move some to another location. Community Development Director John O'Leary says the city hired a consultant to determine who was left homeless by the flood so they know what price range of housing they need. He says he's also wants to know how much housing local contractors can build this summer.

WE KNOW THERE ARE CURRENTLY 400 DEVELOPED LOTS IN THE CITY OF GRAND FORKS RIGHT NOW. HOW MANY ADDITIONAL LOTS DO WE NEED, HOW MANY OF THOSE ADDITIONAL HOUSES CAN BE CONSTRUCTED ON THOSE LOTS WILL BE AVAILABLE THIS YEAR. THOSE RESULTS SHOULD BE AVAILABLE IN A WEEK OR SO.

Some residents say the city is addressing the immediate housing needs too slowly. O'Leary defends his approach, saying a hastily planned development might be a quick housing solution but could also be a slum in ten to twenty years. He says the mobile homes available through the Federal Emergency Management Agency are the best short-term solution while new housing is built. Grand Forks Homes, a non-profit housing coalition, plans to build 32 single family homes this summer. The houses will be sold at cost to income eligible families. In Grand Forks, I'm Tim Pugmire, Minnesota Public Radio News.

Go to Flood of 1997.