The fight over the future of the historic Leland House intensified Tuesday after some Detroit City Council members openly questioned whether the city should take control of the long-troubled building and convert it into public housing.
The post Calls grow for Detroit to seize control of Leland House amid housing crisis appeared first on Detroit Metro Times.
A federal bankruptcy judge has halted the auction of Detroit’s historic Leland House, a victory for residents forced to leave the building last year.
The ruling came after attorneys with the Michigan State University Housing Justice Clinic argued residents were unlawfully excluded from bankruptcy proceedings. The judge agreed that tenant rights included participation in the property’s future.
The Leland House closed in November after a utility disconnection of unknown origin prompted the Detroit Fire Department to issue an eviction order. All tenants were forced to leave the building and barred from returning.
Following the outage, the owner sought court approval to auction the property, prompting legal action from tenants’ rights advocates.
Donovan McCarty is the director of the Housing Justice Clinic and a member of the legal team representing displaced tenants.
“The Leland house is a very unique property. It’s…a place that folks who can’t otherwise afford to live [downtown]…a place that’s right by Rosa Parks transit center…that’s important too, for people of all different socioeconomic classes,” McCarty said.
“What we’re seeing here…is [the influence of] corporate interests and what this could mean for Mayor Sheffield’s tenure,” he explains.
“Is she going to choose the residents, you know, the people of the city of Detroit, or is she going to choose these corporate interests? The Leland house sits effectively on DTE’s campus…DTE has played a prominent role in this case,” according to McCarty.
The next court date in the case will be Feb. 24.
The post Judge halts March sale of Leland House, giving displaced tenants hope appeared first on WDET 101.9 FM.
A federal bankruptcy judge on Wednesday raised serious concerns about whether displaced tenants of Detroit’s historic Leland House were ever given proper notice or a meaningful opportunity to participate in court proceedings that affect what happens to their homes and their belongings.
The post Judge raises concerns that Leland House tenants in Detroit were excluded from bankruptcy case appeared first on Detroit Metro Times.
A federal bankruptcy judge on Thursday stopped a fast-tracked auction of the historic Leland House in downtown Detroit, rejecting the building owner’s proposed sale and delivering a temporary win for displaced tenants who said the proposed sale would strip them of their rights without due process.
The post Judge halts rushed Leland House auction, intervening again in fight over Detroit’s historic building appeared first on Detroit Metro Times.
Tenants at the historic Leland House in downtown Detroit are asking a federal bankruptcy judge to intervene as the troubled 20-story building heads toward a potential auction in early March.
The post Tenants rush to court as Leland House in Detroit faces potential March auction appeared first on Detroit Metro Times.
Detroit Dog Rescue is looking for families to foster dogs for two weeks to protect them from the bitter cold. The shelter and many veterinary boarding facilities are full. As temperatures plummet for the next few days more dogs are expected to die from the cold than survive.
The rescue is looking specifically to house medium to large sized pitbull-type dogs. The dogs are temperament tested, and mostly potty trained. The shelter will provide everything needed, including food and medical care. To learn more or to apply to foster, visit DetroitDogRescue.com.
The City of Detroit and the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation announced a new grant fund to help small businesses improve tech systems. The Rocket Community Fund will provide backing for the program.
The program will award $1,000 grants to 140 Detroit-based micro-businesses with 10 or fewer employees and under $500 thousand in annual revenue. Grants can be used to purchase hardware, software, AI, or other technology tools.
Enforcement of Dearborn’s School Bus Stop-Arm Safety program with Bus Patrol will begin on Monday. Drivers who fail to stop for a stopped school bus with its red lights flashing and stop arm extended will be issued a $250 civil infraction for the first offense and a $500 civil infraction for any additional offenses within one year.
Under state law, motorists are required to stop at least 20 feet from a school bus when lights are flashing and must remained stopped until the bus resumes motion or the lights are off.
The Detroit Tenants Union is hosting a fundraising event for Leland House residents. The event will take place Jan. 23 at PJ’s Lager House at 1254 Michigan Avenue. Doors open at 8 p.m.
The union is collecting monetary donations at the door and raffling off prizes. All proceeds will go directly to the Leland House residents who are still displaced from their homes.
More than two dozen residents were evacuated on Dec. 10 after a major electrical failure at the building.
Value City Furniture is going out of business, and four metro Detroit stores are having sales. The store’s parent company American Signature Inc filed for bankruptcy and is closing all assets. All sales at the stores are final, with no refunds, exchanges, or gift cards accepted.
Locations include Sterling Heights, Taylor, Utica, and Westland.
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The post Detroit Evening Report: Rescue seeks fosters for dogs during extreme cold appeared first on WDET 101.9 FM.
A fundraiser this Friday will raise money for displaced Leland House tenants who remain in limbo more than a month after a major electrical failure forced residents out of the storied downtown Detroit building.
The post Fundraiser planned for displaced Leland House residents as tenants wait for answers appeared first on Detroit Metro Times.
Tenants of Detroit’s historic Leland House plan to rally Saturday afternoon, accusing city officials of blocking them from retrieving their belongings after a sudden evacuation earlier this month and raising alarms about what they call a “hostile takeover” of the troubled and storied downtown building.
The post Tenants plan rally over alleged ‘hostile takeover’ of Detroit’s historic Leland House appeared first on Detroit Metro Times.
Tenants at the historic Leland House just can’t catch a break
The post Leland House tenants forced out after major electrical failure at storied downtown Detroit building appeared first on Detroit Metro Times.
The tenants were given less than a week’s notice to relocate as DTE Energy plans to cut off electricity.
The post Years of neglect catch up to Detroit’s Leland House as residents forced out appeared first on Detroit Metro Times.
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