A tale of two different stories for residents living near the proposed Gordie Howe International Bridge.
Some residents who attended the public meeting voiced concerns about the project and the way have been treated while others are giving the thumbs up and are pleased with how the process has gone.
Mark Roland has lived in the Delray area for 44 years and says he's upset with how the project is being handled.
"I'm not happy with a lot of things going on with the bridge project — with the traffic — with the community — with them shutting down areas — drug use — just overall not happy with what's going on with the city right now," says Roland. "The people left and it's got worse since the construction because now we have more people that are filtered through our neighbourhoods and there's more drug use and there's more illicit activities going on and there is no police presence."
Detroit-Delray residents speak out at a public meeting dealing with the Gordie Howe International Bridge project (Photo by AM800's Rob Hindi)
Linda Pierce lives in the Delray area and signs off on her property this Friday.
She says she's losing her house, church and community center but grateful.
"Even when the City of Detroit and the state was kind of milling around, let's put it like that Canada stuck by its promise to make sure we were taken care of and they did a great job," says Pierce. "When the demolition started — I call them the big monster — it would come and tear down a piece but after he left and it was clear land and the trees and flowers were showing, I just knew to say 'thank you God' and 'thank you for the Canadians.'"
The meeting was put on by the Southwest Detroit Community Benefits Coalition.
The coalition will meet again next month at the Delray Recreation Center.
Detroit-Delray residents meet at the Delray Recreation Center for an update on the Gordie Howe International Bridge (Photo by AM800's Rob Hindi)