When Progress Comes with Unwanted Guests: How Flint’s Massive Urban Renewal is Unleashing Hidden Pest Armies

Flint, Michigan’s remarkable urban transformation is creating an unexpected challenge that’s crawling, scurrying, and flying into neighborhoods across the city. The City of Flint Blight Office is contracting with three qualified pest control businesses to remove rats, mice, and other nuisance wildlife like raccoons, skunks, and groundhogs from blighted properties that are scheduled for demolition, as part of a $39.5 million partnership with the Genesee County Land Bank to demolish up to 1,910 blighted structures.

The Scale of Flint’s Urban Renewal Challenge

Flint’s urban renewal efforts represent one of the most ambitious blight elimination programs in the Rust Belt. Since the GCLBA signed its first grant agreements under the aggressive demolition program in October of 2022, the Land Bank has successfully cleared over 1,000 blighted properties from neighborhoods. The funding sources for blight elimination include: $16 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) from the City of Flint, $8 million in ARPA from the County, $10 million in grant funding from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, $4.5 million from the Land Bank and the Genesee County Treasurer, and $1 million in Community Project Funding through Congressman Kildee’s office.

This massive undertaking extends beyond simple demolition. After declining for decades, a key part of Flint’s 1960s urban renewal is coming down this week. The Atherton East apartment complex was built six decades ago to provide much needed public housing. The city received a $30 million federal grant in 2018 to create new public housing and demolish the aging complex.

The Hidden Pest Problem Emerges

What city planners didn’t initially anticipate was the massive displacement of established pest populations living in these deteriorating structures. Rodents in vacant structures have everything they need: food, water and shelter, said Griffin Pest Solutions District Manager Mark Davenport. He added that the animal becomes displaced once the heavy demolition equipment comes in. “The animal looks for shelter, looks for anything else that they can and that gives that opportunity where they can push into areas we don’t want them,” said Davenport.

City officials announced in a July 6, 2023 press conference that they are set to spend up to $75,000 on efforts to remove pests, an ongoing concern in Flint neighborhoods. Flint’s City Services Manager Arnold Brown said at the press conference that it’s important to have pest control in buildings set to be demolished so that animals don’t invade occupied homes or other areas after the properties are demolished.

Common Pest Species Being Disturbed

The demolition activities are disturbing a diverse ecosystem of urban wildlife. What are some of the most common wildlife issues that homeowners face in Flint? Squirrels, mice, bats, and woodchucks. In the summer, we see bats in attics, and woodchucks are everywhere. Raccoons and squirrels are starting to break into attics as summer moves into fall. December thru February we deal with raccoons, and February thru March we see skunks. Mice are a problem all winter.

These displaced pests don’t simply disappear—they actively seek new shelter in nearby occupied homes and businesses, creating a ripple effect throughout Flint’s neighborhoods.

The City’s Proactive Response

Pest control will primarily occur in Flint’s areas where demolition is scheduled. Live trapping and removal will take place the week before a property is set for demolition, as scheduling allows. Davenport said they will use the most “humane” policies to eliminate pests. He said they will only use poisons when necessary, but they hope to trap and relocate most of the animals.

Mayor Sheldon Neeley emphasized the importance of this initiative: “We don’t want the collateral damage [of the demolition projects] to be residential blight inside the city because we have an infestation of rodents and we did not take the opportunity to think about that.”

What This Means for Flint Residents

The urban renewal projects, while beneficial for the city’s long-term health, create immediate challenges for homeowners and businesses. Properties adjacent to demolition sites face the highest risk of pest invasion. Based on more than 400 survey responses, residents asked us to prioritize the blighted houses that are: 1) directly next door to occupied properties; 2) in areas where more people live and where homes are occupied; 3) near open schools; and 4) fire damaged.

For Flint residents dealing with these pest challenges, professional pest control services have become essential. Local companies are adapting their strategies to address the unique challenges posed by large-scale urban demolition projects.

Looking Forward: Sustainable Urban Renewal

Mayor Sheldon Neeley said: “The goal of the City of Flint’s demolition partnership with the Land Bank is to improve quality of life in Flint neighborhoods, and getting neighborhood pests under control is part of that vision. As we take down hazardous structures, we are making way for new revitalization efforts. We want our kids to take pride in their neighborhoods and enjoy safe places to play.”

Flint’s experience offers valuable lessons for other Rust Belt cities undertaking similar urban renewal projects. The integration of pest management into demolition planning represents a more holistic approach to urban revitalization—one that considers not just the structures being removed, but the entire ecosystem they support.

As Flint continues its transformation, the city’s proactive approach to pest management during urban renewal sets a precedent for other communities facing similar challenges. By addressing both the visible blight and its hidden inhabitants, Flint is working toward a truly comprehensive urban renewal that protects both existing residents and future development opportunities.