‘Finally! Something useful’ or a dangerous mistake? Detroiters respond to city’s housing deal for teachers

Friday’s announcement that all Detroit school employees — whether they work for district, charter, or parochial schools — will get a 50 percent discount on houses auctioned through the Detroit Land Bank Authority stirred a lot of discussion.

Some of our commenters on Facebook had high hopes for the deal:

This just in: Detroit teachers and other school employees can now buy houses in the city at 50% off.

Posted by Chalkbeat Detroit on Friday, July 21, 2017

But one commenter wondered if it’s the city of Detroit that’s actually getting the best deal, not the employees — or other people seeking to buy homes in the city:

This just in: Detroit teachers and other school employees can now buy houses in the city at 50% off.

Posted by Chalkbeat Detroit on Friday, July 21, 2017

And others argued that people who already live in Detroit won’t benefit from this deal:

This just in: Detroit teachers and other school employees can now buy houses in the city at 50% off.

Posted by Chalkbeat Detroit on Friday, July 21, 2017


This just in: Detroit teachers and other school employees can now buy houses in the city at 50% off.

Posted by Chalkbeat Detroit on Friday, July 21, 2017

Still, some readers appear to be ready to move — and have even picked homes to bid on (though not necessarily from the Land Bank Authority)!

This just in: Detroit teachers and other school employees can now buy houses in the city at 50% off.

Posted by Chalkbeat Detroit on Friday, July 21, 2017


This just in: Detroit teachers and other school employees can now buy houses in the city at 50% off.

Posted by Chalkbeat Detroit on Friday, July 21, 2017