November 1, 2015 | Detroit Free Press

A controversial deal between Detroit’s land bank and several large contractors designed to speed up demolitions at a set price instead ended up costing the city at least $3.7 million more than expected, according to records reviewed by the Free Press.

Contracts awarded last summer to major demolition companies rose above what the Detroit Land Bank Authority said were take-it-or-leave-it prices, records show. The land bank approved the higher payouts, which the demolition companies submitted as change orders — extra billings to cover costs in excess of the set price for each home demolition. [...]

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