Leland House tenants face another setback as electrical failure sparks mass evacuation. The historic downtown Detroit building, which opened in 1927, has been plagued by issues for years.
A power outage caused by melting ice and snow on the sidewalk leaked into the basement, where the building's electrical system is located, leaving the 20-story building without electricity. The fire department responded quickly to evacuate all residents due to safety concerns, with City officials stating that their Housing & Revitalization Department has been working closely with DTE Energy to support displaced residents.
The outage comes after management notified tenants on Black Friday that they had a few days to move out due to unpaid electric bills. However, the Leland House secured a $1.2 million short-term loan just in time, allowing the building to avoid being cut off from power. But this latest incident raises questions about the long-term viability of the historic hotel.
The building has been struggling with declining condition and mounting debt since its owner's death in September 2023. A promised $120 million renovation was announced in 2018 but never materialized. Instead, the Leland House has become embroiled in lawsuits and code violations over the past few decades.
As for those affected by the power outage, many have been forced to seek temporary housing, with City officials offering financial assistance to help residents find permanent options. The exact cause of the electrical failure remains unknown, but it's clear that DTE Energy is working to restore power as soon as possible and ensure a safe environment for all residents.
For the tenants of the Leland House, this latest setback serves as another reminder of the challenges they face in an increasingly unstable building.
A power outage caused by melting ice and snow on the sidewalk leaked into the basement, where the building's electrical system is located, leaving the 20-story building without electricity. The fire department responded quickly to evacuate all residents due to safety concerns, with City officials stating that their Housing & Revitalization Department has been working closely with DTE Energy to support displaced residents.
The outage comes after management notified tenants on Black Friday that they had a few days to move out due to unpaid electric bills. However, the Leland House secured a $1.2 million short-term loan just in time, allowing the building to avoid being cut off from power. But this latest incident raises questions about the long-term viability of the historic hotel.
The building has been struggling with declining condition and mounting debt since its owner's death in September 2023. A promised $120 million renovation was announced in 2018 but never materialized. Instead, the Leland House has become embroiled in lawsuits and code violations over the past few decades.
As for those affected by the power outage, many have been forced to seek temporary housing, with City officials offering financial assistance to help residents find permanent options. The exact cause of the electrical failure remains unknown, but it's clear that DTE Energy is working to restore power as soon as possible and ensure a safe environment for all residents.
For the tenants of the Leland House, this latest setback serves as another reminder of the challenges they face in an increasingly unstable building.
it's like you can feel the weight of history bearing down on that old building...all those years of neglect and debt are gonna catch up to them sooner or later 
. but what really gets me is how the system is supposed to be in place to support these people, yet they still end up struggling 
. it's like we're just patching holes in a leaky pipe, hoping it doesn't burst completely 
. gotta wonder, can the Leland House ever truly find stability again? or is this just gonna be a constant struggle for its tenants to stay afloat 
.
. One minute they're trying to get their lives back on track and the next thing they know, there's a power outage and everyone has to evacuate 
. And now, it looks like they still have a lot of unpaid bills to worry about... it's just not fair 
. I hope City officials can find a way to help them out soon, 'cause those people are already going through enough 
.
I'm so worried about those residents 
it's like they're paying for everything but the actual maintenance 
. And now this, a power outage that's gotta be a major disaster 
. The fact that DTE Energy is working to restore power ASAP is good news 
️, but what about the long-term fixes? We need some real solutions here 
. The average vacancy rate for Detroit rentals has been 12% in 2025 
- it's time to address this crisis!
just read about the leland house tenants having another major issue with the power outage... it's like they're stuck in a never-ending nightmare. I feel bad for those who have to deal with the stress and uncertainty of living in a building that's supposed to be historic but is really struggling. The $120 million renovation promise was just a bunch of hot air, and now they're facing these kinds of problems. 
at least DTE Energy is trying to help restore power and get things back on track... but it's like the building is just spinning its wheels at this point. 
we gotta give those city officials props for showing up with a plan to support displaced residents 
! and did you see that they got that $1.2 mil loan just in time? 
talk about a lifesaver! 
it's like, yeah the Leland House is still got its problems but at least there's someone looking out for these tenants 
.
. Plus, all these lawsuits and code violations have been dragging that place down for years, maybe this is just karma or something. And let's be real, $1.2 million seems way too little for a renovation that never materialized in the first place...
. I mean, first the electric bills were due and now they're having a power outage? It's like the building is playing some cruel joke on them 
. And what's up with DTE Energy not fixing these issues sooner? Like, come on guys, it's 2025 and we've got smart homes and self-healing grids, you'd think they could handle a simple electrical upgrade 
. Maybe it's time for someone to take charge and actually fix this building instead of kicking the can down the road 
.
. Anyways, hope the power gets restored soon and these tenants get the help they need 
. And what's with the short-term loan? It's not like that's going to fix all these underlying issues... And let's be real, a $1.2 million loan is just band-aiding over a much deeper problem 
And don't even get me started on the history - 1927, dude! That's old school. I'm all for saving historic buildings and stuff, but someone needs to step in and fix this place ASAP.
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. The fact that the promised $120 million renovation never materialized is a stark reminder of the building's ongoing decline and the need for more comprehensive solutions 
. I feel so bad for the tenants, forced to seek temporary housing and dealing with all that stress 
We need a long-term plan for that place, not just short-term fixes.
. We need more support for them, not just temporary fixes