435 flood-damaged homes in Cedar Rapids have been demolished

Cedar Rapids reports that, to date, it has demolished 435 flood-damaged homes.

The city continues to estimate that as many as 1,200 may come down before all is said and done.

By the end of 2010, it hopes to have demolished 700 structures to add to 139 that were demolished in 2008 and 2009.

On Thursday, City Hall also reported that 87 properties to date have been bought out in what will become a “greenway” along the Cedar River using Federal Emergency Management Agency hazard-mitigation funds.

In addition, 41 properties have been bought out to date using U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant funds. The CDBG funds are being used to buy out the largest majority of properties, some of which are in the area set aside for the construction of a new flood-protection system and some farther from the river outside the greenway and construction areas.

The city has estimated it may buy out 1,300 properties, nearly all of the cost of which will come from federal and state funds.