Demolition Begins on Michigan Megasite Despite Holdout Homeowners

Dozens of homes in Mundy Township to be razed for $261M development, sparking controversy

Apr. 3, 2026 at 5:36pm

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A minimalist studio still life featuring a pile of house keys, a crumpled deed document, and a small model of a bulldozer, symbolizing the tensions surrounding the demolition of homes for a megasite development.The demolition of homes in Mundy Township to make way for a speculative megasite development raises concerns about the balance between economic growth and community impact.Flint Today

Demolition will start this month on a suburban Flint subdivision where most of the houses were bought with $261 million in state money to fund Michigan's first speculative megasite for development. The planned razing of dozens of empty homes is the latest step in a yearslong effort to prepare the site for a large-scale development that has yet to materialize, despite concerns from some remaining homeowners and critics who say the site should not yet be cleared.

Why it matters

The megasite project has been controversial in the community, with some homeowners refusing to sell and move out of the neighborhood that officials want to raze for the potential development. The demolition plan has raised concerns about the lack of a confirmed use for the site and the impact on the remaining homeowners, as well as questions about whether the state should be prioritizing housing demolition over its efforts to address a statewide housing shortage.

The details

Mundy Township officials are requesting the demolitions in Maple Creek Preserve, saying that 'dozens of these properties are unoccupied and, in many cases, have become uninhabitable,' after power and water services were eliminated. However, some critics, including state Rep. Steve Carra, argue the state should step in to halt the demolition, saying it is 'irresponsible and a waste of taxpayer dollars' when the state is facing a housing crisis. The megasite property was first proposed with about 981 acres of farmland, but negotiations with Western Digital in 2024 resulted in the semiconductor-maker wanting the full two-mile span, including the subdivision. While most of the homes have been sold and the neighborhood association is now controlled by the economic alliance, a few homeowners like Rhonda Miller have refused to sell.

  • Demolition will start in April 2026.
  • Initial demolition plans were delayed from February to March 2026.
  • Lurvey Construction of Flint is contracted through October 2026 for the tear-downs.

The players

Mundy Township

The local township government that is requesting the demolitions, citing public health and safety concerns due to the vacant and uninhabitable homes.

Flint and Genesee Economic Alliance

The regional economic development organization that has been buying up the Maple Creek homes and now controls the neighborhood association.

Michigan Economic Development Corp. (MEDC)

The state economic development agency that has been working with the local economic alliance on the megasite project.

Steve Carra

A Republican state representative who is criticizing the demolition plan and calling for the state to intervene.

Rhonda Miller

A Maple Creek Preserve resident who has refused to sell her home and is wary of the development plans.

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What they’re saying

“The idea that we need to destroy these houses, which is just a small portion of the (megasite's) overall two square miles, is something that I believe is irresponsible and a waste of taxpayer dollars.”

— Steve Carra, State Representative

“They're still collecting HOA fees. While there's zero maintenance being done.”

— Rhonda Miller, Maple Creek Preserve Resident

What’s next

State Rep. Steve Carra has urged Attorney General Dana Nessel to intervene and halt the demolition plans, but a spokesman for Nessel's office said she 'cannot issue' the kind of injunctive order a court could.

The takeaway

The demolition of dozens of homes in Mundy Township to make way for a speculative $261 million megasite development has sparked controversy, with critics arguing it is a waste of taxpayer money and conflicts with the state's efforts to address a housing shortage. The fate of the remaining holdout homeowners and the lack of a confirmed use for the cleared site have raised questions about whether the demolition should proceed as planned.