Vacant home woman called about for years collapses, damaging her home

DETROIT, Mich. - Virginia Morris tells FOX 2 she has lived at this house on Webb Street for more than 30 years on Detroit's West Side. She's been calling the city about this vacant property next to her home, for the last four years. She says it needed to be torn down, but with no luck. Now, part of that vacant house has collapsed, damaging her home in the process.

"I was in my house and just got through cooking," Morris tells FOX 2. "Someone told me 'that house is about to fall.' A few moments later, we heard a big loud boom, and the porch fell in. About 15 minutes later, the side fell in and hit my house."

That collapse, causing visible damage to Morris' home. She's very concerned and angry, because the house may not be done collapsing.

"It's still cracking," she says. "As we're speaking, it's still cracking."

A city spokesperson tells FOX 2 the property was approved to be put on the demolition list in October. However, since the home is not in one of the zones where federal funding can be used, it can take up to six months to hire a contractor.

Now, since the house has begun to collapse right next to an occupied home, an inspector will be sent out to property to see if it needs to be torn down right away.

"I'm angry," Morris tells FOX 2. "I'm very angry. I've been calling trying to get something done, and they didn't do anything."