Tenants at Detroit's Historic Leland House in Dire Struggle as Auction Looms
In a shocking turn of events, tenants at the historic Leland House in downtown Detroit are fighting for their rights as the 20-story building heads toward an auction scheduled to take place on March 9. The tenants, who have been locked out of their apartments since December due to an electrical failure, are now taking emergency motions to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, hoping to preserve their leases and prevent the sale of their belongings without consent.
The building's owner is seeking court approval to auction off the property and an adjacent parking lot through an online sale, pending approval by U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Maria Oxholm. However, tenants' advocates argue that this timeline, combined with a January 13 court order authorizing the removal of residents' possessions without notification or opportunity for a hearing, has created an urgent need to act.
Donovan McCarty, director of the Housing Justice Clinic at Michigan State University's College of Law, which is representing residents alongside private attorneys, says that tenants fear they are being pushed out permanently under the guise of emergency cleanup. The city's fire marshal made the decision to block access to residents, and Mayor Mary Sheffield has failed to take a different approach, despite running on a platform that included prioritizing housing rights.
The city's administration is emphasizing safety concerns and ongoing relocation assistance, but tenants say this is not a substitute for due process or their right to return home if conditions improve. Advocates are urging the city to rethink its approach to distressed housing, including whether long-term tenants should have a pathway to ownership or cooperative control rather than displacement.
In a statement, Deputy Mayor Brian White acknowledged that the situation has been "terrible and unfortunate" for the tenants, but maintained that this is a matter of resident safety, as the building has been deemed unsafe to enter by the Fire Marshal. However, many believe that the quick push for an auction is designed to clear the building of residents and belongings so a future developer can start from scratch.
The Detroit Housing & Revitalization Department (HRD) claims to be providing hotel accommodations and wraparound services, including transportation, employment support, and housing navigation to the Leland's displaced residents. However, tenants say this is not enough, as they fear that relocation is not a substitute for their right to return home if conditions improve.
As the situation continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the fate of the Leland House and its tenants hangs in the balance, with the potential auction looming large on March 9.
In a shocking turn of events, tenants at the historic Leland House in downtown Detroit are fighting for their rights as the 20-story building heads toward an auction scheduled to take place on March 9. The tenants, who have been locked out of their apartments since December due to an electrical failure, are now taking emergency motions to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, hoping to preserve their leases and prevent the sale of their belongings without consent.
The building's owner is seeking court approval to auction off the property and an adjacent parking lot through an online sale, pending approval by U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Maria Oxholm. However, tenants' advocates argue that this timeline, combined with a January 13 court order authorizing the removal of residents' possessions without notification or opportunity for a hearing, has created an urgent need to act.
Donovan McCarty, director of the Housing Justice Clinic at Michigan State University's College of Law, which is representing residents alongside private attorneys, says that tenants fear they are being pushed out permanently under the guise of emergency cleanup. The city's fire marshal made the decision to block access to residents, and Mayor Mary Sheffield has failed to take a different approach, despite running on a platform that included prioritizing housing rights.
The city's administration is emphasizing safety concerns and ongoing relocation assistance, but tenants say this is not a substitute for due process or their right to return home if conditions improve. Advocates are urging the city to rethink its approach to distressed housing, including whether long-term tenants should have a pathway to ownership or cooperative control rather than displacement.
In a statement, Deputy Mayor Brian White acknowledged that the situation has been "terrible and unfortunate" for the tenants, but maintained that this is a matter of resident safety, as the building has been deemed unsafe to enter by the Fire Marshal. However, many believe that the quick push for an auction is designed to clear the building of residents and belongings so a future developer can start from scratch.
The Detroit Housing & Revitalization Department (HRD) claims to be providing hotel accommodations and wraparound services, including transportation, employment support, and housing navigation to the Leland's displaced residents. However, tenants say this is not enough, as they fear that relocation is not a substitute for their right to return home if conditions improve.
As the situation continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the fate of the Leland House and its tenants hangs in the balance, with the potential auction looming large on March 9.
The city's handling of this situation is just heartbreaking 
. Tenants are being treated like pawns in a game they didn't even get to play. I mean, an electrical failure happens and suddenly it's "emergency cleanup" time? 
No regard for their lives or their sense of belonging.
. The city is pushing for an auction without considering the long-term consequences for these people 
. What if the building gets redeveloped into some soulless high-rise? The memories, the history, the community - all gone in a matter of days 
. It's like they're trying to erase the very existence of these tenants.
. These are not just numbers or statistics; these are real people who deserve dignity and respect 
. We need to rethink our approach to distressed housing, prioritize affordable options, and ensure that tenants have a voice in the decision-making process 
. Anything less is just unacceptable 
. I mean, I get that the building's been deemed unsafe, but auctioning off their stuff without consent is just not right 
. The city's all about relocation assistance, but what about giving them a way to stay in their homes if things improve? That'd be a real solution 
. I think the city should rethink this approach and prioritize the tenants' rights instead of just focusing on safety 
. It's not too much to ask for some due process or a chance to own their own place, you know? 
I was just thinking about how my cat's fur gets all static-y when it's been away from me for a while... I swear, it's like she's trying to cling to her surroundings or something 
Anyway, back to the Leland House thing... have you guys ever noticed how buildings can be like people? They're both just trying to maintain some sense of normalcy amidst all the craziness going on around them... I mean, the tenants are fighting for their rights, but it's like, what if they could just get a new lease on life (literally)? 
Just a thought 
. We need to start thinking about what's truly important here: people or profits? I mean, can we even call this a "market" if we're not considering the human impact? 
. I mean, they're trying to spin it as "residents' safety" but come on, who needs an auction when you can just give them their stuff back and some decent relocation support? 
It's not like they're asking for much – some basic human decency and a chance to stay in their own homes. And what's with the whole "we need to start from scratch" vibe, anyway? Like, who's gonna be responsible for cleaning up all that emotional trauma on top of the physical mess? 
This is just another example of how screwed up our housing system is.
. I think the city needs to step up its game and work with the tenants to find a solution that works for everyone, not just some developers looking to make a quick buck 
this is literally so heartbreaking. i mean, these ppl are already dealing with a major electrical failure and now they're being pushed out by an auction? it's like the city doesn't care about the people who actually need help. 
i feel bad for donovan mccarty and his team trying to fight for their rights though. the fact that the mayor ran on a platform of prioritizing housing rights but now isn't doing anything about it is just crazy. 
... these people have been through so much already, first an electrical failure that locks them out, then the city's fire marshal says they can't even go home, and now it sounds like they're just being pushed to auction off their stuff without any say in the matter? It's just not right. I mean, I get that the building is deemed unsafe, but shouldn't there be a way for them to at least negotiate with the owner or figure out what's going on instead of having their belongings just sold off?
. The city's all like "safety concerns" and "relocation assistance", but from where I'm sitting, it sounds like a bunch of corporate-speak for "we don't want you here anymore". I just hope these tenants can find a way to fight back and preserve their leases - it would be a total shame if they're just displaced without any say in the matter. 
. I mean, these ppl are fighting for their homes and it feels like the city is trying to sweep everything under the rug 
.
. I think the city should really rethink its approach to distressed housing and try to find a more sustainable solution that works for everyone 
.
we need to start thinking about how we can support long-term renters and prevent situations like this from happening again