Sorry, we demolished your house

 

According to The Detroit News, when artists Kristen Diven and Michow "Detronik" McAdow turned up at their newly purchased home last month, it had disappeared.

 

The home had been knocked down by accident as part of a campaign by the city to rid Detroit of old and abandoned homes.

 

Nearly 20,000 properties with unpaid property taxes were auctioned off by the city last October and those that didn't sell were then placed under a demolition order.

 

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Diven and McAdow seemed to have nabbed a bargain, paying just $500 for the five-bedroom family home with original features such as hardwood floors and fireplaces. The couple had planned to spend another $8000 on repairs to make the home liveable again.

 

But it seems that someone forgot to tell the city's planning and facilities department about the sale. The couple's property and 11 others that were sold at the auction were knocked down.

 

The city has reimbursed the $500 however the couple are not satisfied.

 

Speaking to The Detroit News, Diven said they'd discovered a “diamond in the rough”.

 

“We were surprised by how no one noticed the condition it was in, it was almost ready to move into," she said.

 

“We want officials to make amends for their mistake.

 

“A house of similar quality would help, considering all the labour we put into finding the home.”