Detroit Tenants Flock to Court in Bid to Save Leland House from Auction
A sense of urgency has descended on the historic Leland House in downtown Detroit, as tenants and advocacy groups are racing to court in a desperate bid to prevent the troubled 20-story building from being auctioned off. The deadline for the online sale is set for early March, with a Delaware-based entity serving as the $3.5 million stalking-horse bidder.
The Leland House has been plagued by maintenance issues and electrical failures, forcing tenants to evacuate in December after power went out. Many believed the displacement would be temporary, but instead, they were locked out, leaving personal belongings behind. The city's fire marshal blocked access to residents, and despite Mayor Mary Sheffield's progressive platform, her administration is prioritizing safety concerns over tenant rights.
In a move that has raised eyebrows, the Leland House ownership seeks court approval to auction off the property and an adjacent parking lot through an online sale. Tenants argue that any sale would wipe out existing leases, leaving residents without a home or belongings to claim. In one filing, they object to the sale, citing valid, unexpired rental agreements that must transfer to a new owner.
Residents fear being pushed out permanently under the guise of emergency cleanup, and advocates worry that the auction timeline is designed to clear the building of tenants and belongings for a future developer to start from scratch. "Under the current order, the idea is that a moving company would go in and move their stuff out, but that's an invasion of privacy," says Donovan McCarty, director of the Housing Justice Clinic at Michigan State University.
Tenants are asking the court to pause enforcement of the order, allow residents back into their units under supervised conditions to retrieve belongings themselves, and block any sale that does not protect their right to return if the building is made safe again. The city's housing navigation service has provided assistance, including transportation, employment support, and housing navigation, but tenants argue this is not a substitute for due process or their right to return home.
As the situation unfolds, advocates are urging the city to rethink its approach to distressed housing, advocating for pathways to ownership or cooperative control rather than displacement. The fate of the Leland House hangs in the balance, with its residents fighting for a safe and dignified place to call home.
A sense of urgency has descended on the historic Leland House in downtown Detroit, as tenants and advocacy groups are racing to court in a desperate bid to prevent the troubled 20-story building from being auctioned off. The deadline for the online sale is set for early March, with a Delaware-based entity serving as the $3.5 million stalking-horse bidder.
The Leland House has been plagued by maintenance issues and electrical failures, forcing tenants to evacuate in December after power went out. Many believed the displacement would be temporary, but instead, they were locked out, leaving personal belongings behind. The city's fire marshal blocked access to residents, and despite Mayor Mary Sheffield's progressive platform, her administration is prioritizing safety concerns over tenant rights.
In a move that has raised eyebrows, the Leland House ownership seeks court approval to auction off the property and an adjacent parking lot through an online sale. Tenants argue that any sale would wipe out existing leases, leaving residents without a home or belongings to claim. In one filing, they object to the sale, citing valid, unexpired rental agreements that must transfer to a new owner.
Residents fear being pushed out permanently under the guise of emergency cleanup, and advocates worry that the auction timeline is designed to clear the building of tenants and belongings for a future developer to start from scratch. "Under the current order, the idea is that a moving company would go in and move their stuff out, but that's an invasion of privacy," says Donovan McCarty, director of the Housing Justice Clinic at Michigan State University.
Tenants are asking the court to pause enforcement of the order, allow residents back into their units under supervised conditions to retrieve belongings themselves, and block any sale that does not protect their right to return if the building is made safe again. The city's housing navigation service has provided assistance, including transportation, employment support, and housing navigation, but tenants argue this is not a substitute for due process or their right to return home.
As the situation unfolds, advocates are urging the city to rethink its approach to distressed housing, advocating for pathways to ownership or cooperative control rather than displacement. The fate of the Leland House hangs in the balance, with its residents fighting for a safe and dignified place to call home.
i cant even believe the city is prioritizing safety concerns over tenant rights like wut? 
those tenants have been through hell already with power outages and being locked out of their own homes and now they're just gonna be pushed out permanently? 
it's not right. i feel for them so much, they deserve better than to be treated like this. 
the city should be finding ways to make that building safe again, not trying to get rid of all the tenants. 
and what about their personal stuff? do they just get to forget everything they have?! 
i'm all for making sure everyone is safe, but this isn't the way to do it. 
I'm all for helping out the tenants at the Leland House, but come on, $3.5 million is a lot of money! I get that it's been having some issues, but auctioning it off just seems like a quick fix that's gonna leave those folks in a tough spot. 
Plus, what's up with the city not prioritizing tenant rights more? It's all about safety, yeah, but what about their homes and stuff?! I'd love to see some creative solutions that don't involve pushing people out on the street. Can we just find a way to fix the building without sacrificing everyone's future plans? 
This is so messed up! I'm literally rooting for those tenants, you feel? 
That's just displacement in disguise.
. I mean, think about it - their homes are being taken away from them without even giving 'em a chance to say goodbye or pack up their stuff themselves. It's like, yeah, safety is important and all, but you can't just kick people out in the middle of nowhere! 
." The city's actions towards the Leland House tenants are speaking volumes - displacing people from their homes, not allowing them to return, and now putting up for auction without considering their plight. It's like they're trying to sweep this under the rug 
.
. Those tenants have been through so much already, first losing power and then being locked out of their own homes 
. I mean, what's wrong with giving people a chance to reclaim their belongings and get back into their units? 
. And those advocates are right, we need better pathways to homeownership or cooperative control 
. The city should be investing more in affordable housing options, not pushing out long-time residents 
. It's not just about the Leland House, it's a symptom of a larger issue with gentrification and displacement 
This auction is all about pushing people out permanently and making them start from scratch. Not cool 
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. I guess the city thinks it can just sweep this under the rug and start fresh with a new developer? 
.
i feel like the city's prioritizing safety over people's lives, which is wrong. can't they find a way to make the building safe again instead of just pushing them out? 
, just a bunch of bureaucratic red tape 
. it's not like the city is making an effort to fix the building's issues either 
, they're just prioritizing their own interests over people's lives 
, maybe find a way to get the tenants more control or ownership of their own homes 
. I think it's time for the city to step up and find a way to make this work for everyone, not just push them around 
.
. I don’t think it's too much to ask for a safe place to live, especially when you've been struggling with basic issues like electricity and maintenance 
.
the housing justice clinic is right ppl deserve a say in their own fate, not some bureaucratic process that seems designed to push them out
and honestly, the city's response has been pretty weak 
I hope the court steps in and puts a stop to this chaos 
. The city needs to find a way to make this work for everyone, not just the developers who are makin' a quick buck off these folks.
. I'm hopin' the court sees this for what it is – a clear case of neglect and exploitation – and does somethin' about it 