Detroit's Iconic Leland House Faces Crisis as Residents Face Eviction Amidst Utility Disconnection.
A historic Detroit landmark, the 20-story Leland House is facing a dire situation after its owner, the Leland House Limited Partnership Company, failed to pay its outstanding electricity bills. DTE Energy has announced plans to cut power to the building on December 3rd due to an estimated $43,000 debt. The utility company has declined the owner's request for a one-week extension to pay the deposit.
The crisis is further complicated by the building's water bill, which the owner also failed to pay. This has left the residents of roughly 40 occupied units with little time to find new housing before the power cuts off. Management has informed tenants that they will be required to seek alternative accommodations unless a last-minute resolution can be reached.
The Leland House has a long history as a luxury hotel, but its reputation has taken a hit over the years due to safety concerns and a series of code violations. The building's occupancy has dwindled significantly since 2014 when a fire revealed that the standpipe system did not function properly. Inspectors have found numerous issues with the building's maintenance, including broken elevators, inoperable smoke detectors, heat exchangers submerged in water, and common areas with temperatures in the 40s.
The city of Detroit has been taking steps to address the issue. The Housing and Revitalization Department will provide support to residents who are being forced out, while a consent agreement filed by the city last year requires the owners to fix elevators, address safety violations, and bring the building into compliance.
However, it remains unclear how quickly residents will be placed in new housing. Ara Darakjian's company, Tir Equities LLC, has been trying to buy the Leland House but is waiting for major repairs to be completed and outstanding bills to be settled before proceeding with the purchase.
As DTE Energy cuts power on December 3rd, the building will be effectively uninhabitable, leaving residents facing an uncertain future.
A historic Detroit landmark, the 20-story Leland House is facing a dire situation after its owner, the Leland House Limited Partnership Company, failed to pay its outstanding electricity bills. DTE Energy has announced plans to cut power to the building on December 3rd due to an estimated $43,000 debt. The utility company has declined the owner's request for a one-week extension to pay the deposit.
The crisis is further complicated by the building's water bill, which the owner also failed to pay. This has left the residents of roughly 40 occupied units with little time to find new housing before the power cuts off. Management has informed tenants that they will be required to seek alternative accommodations unless a last-minute resolution can be reached.
The Leland House has a long history as a luxury hotel, but its reputation has taken a hit over the years due to safety concerns and a series of code violations. The building's occupancy has dwindled significantly since 2014 when a fire revealed that the standpipe system did not function properly. Inspectors have found numerous issues with the building's maintenance, including broken elevators, inoperable smoke detectors, heat exchangers submerged in water, and common areas with temperatures in the 40s.
The city of Detroit has been taking steps to address the issue. The Housing and Revitalization Department will provide support to residents who are being forced out, while a consent agreement filed by the city last year requires the owners to fix elevators, address safety violations, and bring the building into compliance.
However, it remains unclear how quickly residents will be placed in new housing. Ara Darakjian's company, Tir Equities LLC, has been trying to buy the Leland House but is waiting for major repairs to be completed and outstanding bills to be settled before proceeding with the purchase.
As DTE Energy cuts power on December 3rd, the building will be effectively uninhabitable, leaving residents facing an uncertain future.
. It's like they forgot there are people living in those units 
. The city's been trying to help, but it seems like no one's listening 
. And now the power's gonna get cut off on Dec 3rd? That's just devastating 
. What's gonna happen to all these ppl who can't find new housing? It's a total disaster 
. I feel bad for them, but I also don't wanna say "I told you so" 
. Maybe the city'll step in and help 'em out, but till then... I dunno 
.
how can a company just get cut off like that? dont they know ppl have kids and families living there already? the city needs to step in ASAP and find some solutions for these people who are being forced out of their homes 
also what's going on with the owners? why didnt they pay the bills on time? and the safety issues at this building? poor ppl deserve better 
. It's just not right that people are being forced out because their landlords can't even pay their bills...
...
. I mean, the Leland House has been around for ages and it's got such history, but now it's like the city is just abandoning these people 
. 40 families with nowhere to go, that's crazy. And it's not just the residents who are affected, the whole community is gonna feel this 
.
.
. We need more people like Ara Darakjian who care about fixing this place 
.
this is just heartbreaking what's going down at Leland House in Detroit I mean, it's a historic landmark and all but when you think about those 40 people who are gonna lose their homes on Dec 3rd...it's just not fair 
but it sounds like the owner is still dragging its feet 
DTE Energy should do more to help, like give them a longer extension or offer some kind of assistance fund. and what about Ara Darakjian's company? they're just waiting for everything to be fixed up before buying the place... that doesn't seem very fair to the current residents 
anyway, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that someone can come up with a solution soon 
like, what happened to basic human rights? Can't the owners just communicate with DTE Energy instead of tryna play the victim card? The city should be doin' more to help, like fast-tracked repairs and temporary housing options ASAP 
. The city's trying to help out with support for the residents, but it's all just setting up the same old cycle: find new housing, get into debt... it's just not fair. And the history of this place is tragic - a luxury hotel turned nightmare 
. I mean, who needs elevators that don't work and smoke detectors that are toast? 
It's not like the owners were expecting a 5-star rating or something. But seriously, 40 residents with no place to go in 3 days? That's just harsh 
. Maybe Tir Equities can step in and save the day (or not)? 
.
... I hope some kind soul comes along and can make a difference for them soon 
... how can you just ignore that? And now it's going to leave 40 people high and dry without a place to call home? It's like they're just throwing them out onto the streets 
. I mean, when are we gonna see some real action?
.
... What's next? The whole building just gets abandoned? That would be a total tragedy 
. The city should've stepped in sooner, not just filing consent agreements last year. We need real solutions, not just band-aids 
. This is just another example of how our cities can fail their most vulnerable residents 
.