Why Don't We Blog This?

Posted by Jerry:

This post lists numbers and links to maps of 2,200-some $500 Detroit auction properties within a quarter mile of 73 different celebrities’ former homes in the city. From Rosa Parks (102 properties) to Tom Selleck (104 properties), from James Lipton (21) to Malcolm X (59), from Berry Gordy (23) to Ted Nugent (62) to Jack White (12) to Eminem (134) to Henry Ford (12) to […drum roll…] beyond.

The addresses are taken in chronological order from a picture book called “Home in Detroit: Where They Lived… in the Motor City” by T Burton, with a forward by John George from Blight Busters (thanks to Jen Ruud for letting me borrow her copy). Here’s Mary from LOVELAND modeling it on her head. It’s great. You should buy it. Doubles as a hat:

Long story short, over the weekend I had this song by Detroit rapper Danny Brown stuck in my head (yes that is a dude breaking up scrapped metal piping in the kitchen — good to see for those looking to move into empty auction houses):

In the song he shouts out Linwood, so I googled and saw on Wikipedia that Danny’s from the Dexter-Linwood area of Detroit. I typed that into the map search engine on whydontweownthis.com and saw that within one quarter mile section of that area there are 57 properties coming up for auction for $500 at the 20,000 property city- and county-wide Wayne County Tax Foreclosure Auction running October 19 - 26.

I thought it was an interesting view alongside the scenes in the video, and it struck me I wanted to see more of what’s going on around Detroit locations with significance and story. We’ve been trying to get more people tuned into the fact that the world’s largest property auction is about to go down in Detroit and no one’s talking about it, so maybe looking up what’s going on around some famous houses would wake people up to it a bit.

Here’s what you need to know before scanning the list:

The Wayne County Tax Foreclosure Auction happens in 2 rounds. During round 1, which happened a couple weeks ago, properties that had fallen 3 years behind in property taxes were foreclosed on by the county and auctioned with the opening bid equal to the taxes owed. What didn’t sell or get withdrawn is now about to be auctioned in round 2 for an opening bid of $500. Round 2 starts on October 19th and runs through the 26th. 

Fewer than 800 properties sold in round 1, and of the nearly 20,000 Detroit properties left at round 2 (just about 5% of the total number of properties in the city), half are expected not to sell — meaning there will likely be 10,000 properties left behind, which account for 2.5% of all properties in Detroit, which could have been purchased for $5,000,000. Something to consider as you browse the list.

▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀

1. Rosa Parks: 3201 Virginia Park (view microhood map) — 102 properties at auction within a quarter mile — 0 sold in round 1 — 1 withdrawn — $50,500 to bid on all 101 remaining $500 properties in round 2

2. Malcolm X: 18827 Keystone (view microhood map) — 59 properties at auction within a quarter mile — 0 sold in round 1 — 2 withdrawn — $28,500 to bid on all 57 remaining $500 properties in round 2

3. Betty Shabazz: 313 Hague (view microhood map) — 48 properties at auction within a quarter mile — 3 sold in round 1 — 1 withdrawn — $22,000 to bid on all 44 remaining $500 properties in round 2

4. Elijah Mohammad: 3059 Yemans (view microhood map) — 18 properties at auction within a quarter mile — 7 sold in round 1 — 3 withdrawn — $4,000 to bid on all 8 remaining $500 properties in round 2

5. Henry Ford: 140 Edison (view microhood map) — 12 properties at auction within a quarter mile — 1 sold in round 1 — 2 withdrawn — $4,500 to bid on all 9 remaining $500 properties in round 2

6. John Dodge: 75 East Boston (view microhood map) — 15 properties at auction within a quarter mile — 1 sold in round 1 — 0 withdrawn — $7,000 to bid on all 14 remaining $500 properties in round 2

7. John DeLorean: 17199 Marx (view microhood map) — 36 properties at auction within a quarter mile — 0 sold in round 1 — 0 withdrawn — $18,000 to bid on all 36 remaining $500 properties in round 2

8. Walther P. Reuther: 3240 W Philadelphia (view microhood map) — 98 properties at auction within a quarter mile — 0 sold in round 1 — 2 withdrawn — $48,000 to bid on all 96 remaining $500 properties in round 2

9. Jimmy Hoffa: 4742 Toledo (view microhood map) — 11 properties at auction within a quarter mile — 1 sold in round 1 — 2 withdrawn — $4,000 to bid on all 8 remaining $500 properties in round 2

10. Dennis Archer: 1642 Lincolnshire (view microhood map) - 2 at auction, 0 withdrawn, 2 sold // — 2 properties at auction within a quarter mile — 2 sold in round 1 — 0 withdrawn — $0 to bid on all 0 remaining $500 properties in round 2

11. Carl Levin: 8931 La Salle (view microhood map) — 56 properties at auction within a quarter mile — 0 sold in round 1 — 3 withdrawn — $26,500 to bid on all 53 remaining $500 properties in round 2

12. Mike and Marion Illitch: 7321 Chalfonte (view microhood map) — 30 properties at auction within a quarter mile — 1 sold in round 1 — 2 withdrawn — $13,500 to bid on all 27 remaining $500 properties in round 2

13. Peter Karmanos: 16161 Asbury Park (view microhood map) — 61 properties at auction within a quarter mile — 1 sold in round 1 — 9 withdrawn — $25,500 to bid on all 51 remaining $500 properties in round 2

14. Charles Lindbergh: 1120 W Forest (view microhood map) — 1 property at auction within a quarter mile — 0 sold in round 1 — 1 withdrawn — $0 to bid on all 0 remaining $500 properties in round 2

15. Sebastian Kresge: 70 W Boston (view microhood map) — 14 properties at auction within a quarter mile — 1 sold in round 1 — 0 withdrawn — $6,500 to bid on all 13 remaining $500 properties in round 2

16. Sonny Eliot: 3242 Calvert (view microhood map) — 52 properties at auction within a quarter mile — 0 sold in round 1 — 1 withdrawn — $25,500 to bid on all 51 remaining $500 properties in round 2

17. Casey Casem: 454 Alexandrine (view microhood map) — 1 property at auction within a quarter mile — 1 sold in round 1 — 0 withdrawn — $0 to bid on all 0 remaining $500 properties in round 2

18. Marvin Mitchelson: 2037 West Grand (view microhood map) — 23 properties at auction within a quarter mile — 0 sold in round 1 — 1 withdrawn — $11,000 to bid on all 22 remaining $500 properties in round 2

19. Ivan Boesky: 17405 Fairfield (view microhood map) — 9 properties at auction within a quarter mile — 2 sold in round 1 — 4 withdrawn — $1,500 to bid on all 3 remaining $500 properties in round 2

20. Philip Levine: 19360 Santa Rosa (view microhood map) — 21 properties at auction within a quarter mile — 6 sold in round 1 — 5 withdrawn — $5,000 to bid on all 10 remaining $500 properties in round 2

21. James Lipton: 280 Hague (view microhood map) — 21 properties at auction within a quarter mile — 6 sold in round 1 — 5 withdrawn — $5,000 to bid on all 10 remaining $500 properties in round 2

22. Dr Wayne Dyer: 20217 Moross (view microhood map) — 49 properties at auction within a quarter mile — 2 sold in round 1 — 4 withdrawn — $21,500 to bid on all 43 remaining $500 properties in round 2

23. Francis Ford Coppola: 17540 Kentucky (view microhood map) — note: house next door was bought by largest buyer in round 1 — 29 properties at auction within a quarter mile — 9 sold in round 1 — 5 withdrawn — $7,500 to bid on all 15 remaining $500 properties in round 2

24. Jerry Bruckheimer: 19784 Ardmore (view microhood map) - 47 at auction, 8 sold, 6 withdrawn, $20,500 for remaining 33 // — 47 properties at auction within a quarter mile — 8 sold in round 1 — 6 withdrawn — $16,500 to bid on all 33 remaining $500 properties in round 2

25. Lynn Goldsmith: 19172 Steel (view microhood map) — 26 properties at auction within a quarter mile — 9 sold in round 1 — 3 withdrawn — $7,000 to bid on all 14 remaining $500 properties in round 2

26. Jackie Kallen: 18468 Hartwell (view microhood map) — 29 properties at auction within a quarter mile — 9 sold in round 1 — 5 withdrawn — $7,500 to bid on all 15 remaining $500 properties in round 2

27. Mike Wallace: 4863 Second Blvd (view microhood map) — 1 property at auction within a quarter mile — 0 sold in round 1 — 1 withdrawn — $0 to bid on all 0 remaining $500 properties in round 2

28. Sonny Bono: 5380 Holcomb (view microhood map) — 43 properties at auction within a quarter mile — 0 sold in round 1 — 1 withdrawn — $21,000 to bid on all 42 remaining $500 properties in round 2

29. Ellen Burstyn: 3721 Hazelwood (view microhood map) — 77 properties at auction within a quarter mile — 0 sold in round 1 — 0 withdrawn — $38,500 to bid on all 77 remaining $500 properties in round 2

30. David Allen Grier: 2200 West Boston (view microhood map) — 48 properties at auction within a quarter mile — 0 sold in round 1 — 4 withdrawn — $22,000 to bid on all 44 remaining $500 properties in round 2

31. Marla Gibbs: 4003 Clements (view microhood map) — 49 properties at auction within a quarter mile — 1 sold in round 1 — 3 withdrawn — $22,500 to bid on all 45 remaining $500 properties in round 2

32. George Peppard: 99 Burlingame (view microhood map) — 29 properties at auction within a quarter mile — 1 sold in round 1 — 3 withdrawn — $12,500 to bid on all 25 remaining $500 properties in round 2

33. Gilda Radner: 17330 Wildemere (view microhood map) — 5 properties at auction within a quarter mile — 1 sold in round 1 — 1 withdrawn — $1,500 to bid on all 3 remaining $500 properties in round 2

34. George C. Scott: 18981 Pennington (view microhood map) — 34 properties at auction within a quarter mile — 9 sold in round 1 — 10 withdrawn — $7,500 to bid on all 15 remaining $500 properties in round 2

35. Veronica Webb: 4187 Burns (view microhood map) — Note: neighboring house is at auction — 25 properties at auction within a quarter mile — 2 sold in round 1 — 0 withdrawn — $12,500 to bid on all 23 remaining $500 properties in round 2

36. Tom Selleck: 10530 Lakepointe (view microhood map) — Note: 3 houses in a row on his street — 104 properties at auction within a quarter mile — 0 sold in round 1 — 3 withdrawn — $50,500 to bid on all 101 remaining $500 properties in round 2

37. Lily Tomlin: 223 Louise (view microhood map) — Note: in Highland Park (a small, independent city within Detroit) — 64 properties at auction within a quarter mile — 0 sold in round 1 — 3 withdrawn — $30,500 to bid on all 61 remaining $500 properties in round 2

38. Robert Wagner: 17410 Fairway (view microhood map) — 5 properties at auction within a quarter mile — 2 sold in round 1 — 1 withdrawn — $1,000 to bid on all 2 remaining $500 properties in round 2

39. Tom Skerritt: 12003 Cheyenne (view microhood map) — Note: neighboring house is at auction — 54 properties at auction within a quarter mile — 0 sold in round 1 — 2 withdrawn — $26,000 to bid on all 52 remaining $500 properties in round 2

40. Danny Thomas: 93 Adelaide (view microhood map) — 1 property at auction within a quarter mile — 1 sold in round 1 — 0 withdrawn — $0 to bid on all 0 remaining $500 properties in round 2

41. Harry Morgan: 198 Rhode Island (view microhood map) — 34 properties at auction within a quarter mile — 0 sold in round 1 — 4 withdrawn — $15,000 to bid on all 30 remaining $500 properties in round 2

42. Berry Gordy: 918 Boston (view microhood map) — 23 properties at auction within a quarter mile — 0 sold in round 1 — 1 withdrawn — $11,000 to bid on all 22 remaining $500 properties in round 2

43. Diana Ross: 3762 W Buena Vista (view microhood map) — 54 properties at auction within a quarter mile — 1 sold in round 1 — 4 withdrawn — $24,500 to bid on all 49 remaining $500 properties in round 2

44. Florence Ballard: 3767 W Buena Vista (view microhood map) — 55 properties at auction within a quarter mile — 1 sold in round 1 — 4 withdrawn — $25,000 to bid on all 50 remaining $500 properties in round 2

45. Mary Wilson: 4099 W Buena Vista (view microhood map) — 41 properties at auction within a quarter mile — 1 sold in round 1 — 3 withdrawn — $18,500 to bid on all 37 remaining $500 properties in round 2

46. Temptations 1: 1160 Clairmount (view microhood map) — 28 properties at auction within a quarter mile — 0 sold in round 1 — 3 withdrawn — $12,500 to bid on all 25 remaining $500 properties in round 2

47. Temptations 2: 19734 Appoline (view microhood map) — 26 properties at auction within a quarter mile — 5 sold in round 1 — 2 withdrawn — $9,500 to bid on all 19 remaining $500 properties in round 2

48. Temptations 3: 16531 Baylis (view microhood map) — 45 properties at auction within a quarter mile — 3 sold in round 1 — 0 withdrawn — $21,000 to bid on all 42 remaining $500 properties in round 2

49. Temptations 4: 2211 Pingree (view microhood map) — 60 properties at auction within a quarter mile — 0 sold in round 1 — 4 withdrawn — $28,000 to bid on all 56 remaining $500 properties in round 2

50. Temptations 5: 1979 Seward (view microhood map) — 35 properties at auction within a quarter mile — 0 sold in round 1 — 5 withdrawn — $15,000 to bid on all 30 remaining $500 properties in round 2

51. Aretha Franklin: 649 E Boston (view microhood map) — 28 properties at auction within a quarter mile — 1 sold in round 1 — 1 withdrawn — $13,000 to bid on all 26 remaining $500 properties in round 2

52. Smokey Robinson: 581 Belmont (view microhood map) — Note: Neighboring houses at auction — 38 properties at auction within a quarter mile — 1 sold in round 1 — 2 withdrawn — $17,500 to bid on all 35 remaining $500 properties in round 2

53. Martha Reeves: 2409 Townsend (view microhood map) — 30 properties at auction within a quarter mile — 0 sold in round 1 — 5 withdrawn — $12,500 to bid on all 25 remaining $500 properties in round 2

54. Marvin Gaye: 19315 Appoline (view microhood map) — 26 properties at auction within a quarter mile — 8 sold in round 1 — 2 withdrawn — $8,000 to bid on all 16 remaining $500 properties in round 2

55. Gladys Knight: 16860 La Salle (view microhood map) — 22 properties at auction within a quarter mile — 2 sold in round 1 — 1 withdrawn — $9,500 to bid on all 19 remaining $500 properties in round 2

56. Stevie Wonder: 18074 Greenlawn (view microhood map) — 23 properties at auction within a quarter mile — 3 sold in round 1 — 6 withdrawn — $7,000 to bid on all 14 remaining $500 properties in round 2

57. Edwin Starr: 20511 Ardmore (view microhood map) — 22 properties at auction within a quarter mile — 4 sold in round 1 — 6 withdrawn — $6,000 to bid on all 12 remaining $500 properties in round 2

58. Jackie Wilson: 16522 La Salle (view microhood map) — Note: House across the street at auction — 44 properties at auction within a quarter mile — 4 sold in round 1 — 0 withdrawn — $20,000 to bid on all 40 remaining $500 properties in round 2

59. Ray Parker Jr: 3780 Virginia Park (view microhood map) — 79 properties at auction within a quarter mile — 0 sold in round 1 — 2 withdrawn — $38,500 to bid on all 77 remaining $500 properties in round 2

60. Jack White: 1203 Ferdinand (view microhood map) — 13 properties at auction within a quarter mile — 0 sold in round 1 — 1 withdrawn — $6,000 to bid on all 12 remaining $500 properties in round 2

61. Ted Nugent: 23251 Florence (view microhood map) — Note: Lots of contiguous properties — 62 properties at auction within a quarter mile — 0 sold in round 1 — 3 withdrawn — $29,500 to bid on all 59 remaining $500 properties in round 2

62. Eminem: 19946 Dresden (view microhood map) - Note: Lots of contiguous properties — 137 properties at auction within a quarter mile — 0 sold in round 1 — 3 withdrawn — $67,000 to bid on all 134 remaining $500 properties in round 2

63. Ty Cobb: 800 Atkinson (view microhood map) — 20 properties at auction within a quarter mile — 0 sold in round 1 — 3 withdrawn — $8,500 to bid on all 17 remaining $500 properties in round 2

64. Spencer Haywood: 18421 Sunset (view microhood map) — 42 properties at auction within a quarter mile — 0 sold in round 1 — 0 withdrawn — $21,000 to bid on all 42 remaining $500 properties in round 2

65. Dave DeBusschere: 16011 Evanston (view microhood map) — 103 properties at auction within a quarter mile — 0 sold in round 1 — 4 withdrawn — $49,500 to bid on all 99 remaining $500 properties in round 2

66. Ron LeFlore: 3454 Van Dyke (view microhood map) — 25 properties at auction within a quarter mile — 0 sold in round 1 — 2 withdrawn — $11,500 to bid on all 23 remaining $500 properties in round 2

67. Rudy Tomjanovich: 11428 Nagel (view microhood map) — 25 properties at auction within a quarter mile — 4 sold in round 1 — 0 withdrawn — $10,500 to bid on all 21 remaining $500 properties in round 2

68. Jerome Bettis: 10384 Aurora (view microhood map) — 81 properties at auction within a quarter mile — 0 sold in round 1 — 1 withdrawn — $40,000 to bid on all 80 remaining $500 properties in round 2

69. Frank Tanana: 7751 Dayton (view microhood map) — 65 properties at auction within a quarter mile — 0 sold in round 1 — 4 withdrawn — $30,500 to bid on all 61 remaining $500 properties in round 2

70. Greg Kelser: 20161 Cooley (view microhood map) — 32 properties at auction within a quarter mile — 0 sold in round 1 — 3 withdrawn — $14,500 to bid on all 29 remaining $500 properties in round 2

71. Jerry Glanville: 16648 Edmore (view microhood map) — 23 properties at auction within a quarter mile — 1 sold in round 1 — 1 withdrawn — $10,500 to bid on all 21 remaining $500 properties in round 2

72. Chris Webber: 16725 Biltmore (view microhood map) — 60 properties at auction within a quarter mile — 0 sold in round 1 — 5 withdrawn — $27,500 to bid on all 55 remaining $500 properties in round 2

73. Benny Parsons: 64 E Montana (view microhood map) — 47 properties at auction within a quarter mile — 0 sold in round 1 — 1 withdrawn — $23,000 to bid on all 46 remaining $500 properties in round 2