Tenants of Detroit's Leland House Rush to Court as Auction Looms
The fate of the historic 20-story Leland House in downtown Detroit hangs in the balance, with tenants scrambling to prevent a potential March auction that could push them out permanently. The building, which has been plagued by electrical failures and neglect, is owned by a Delaware-based entity seeking to sell it through bankruptcy.
As the timeline for the auction approaches, tenant advocates are urging U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Maria Oxholm to intervene, citing concerns over privacy, due process, and the potential loss of irreplaceable belongings. The tenants' union has filed emergency motions in an effort to preserve their leases and prevent the removal of their possessions without their consent.
According to housing advocates, the auction timeline, combined with a January court order authorizing the removal of residents' possessions, created an urgent need for action. "We realized very quickly that if nothing was done, tenants were going to miss the window to be heard," says Donovan McCarty, director of the Housing Justice Clinic at Michigan State University's College of Law.
Residents who were forced to evacuate the building in December after an electrical failure knocked out power, heat, and elevators are now facing a long-term displacement. Many had believed that their displacement would be temporary, but instead, they were locked out, with personal belongings left behind inside the building.
The city's fire marshal made the decision to block access to residents, and Mayor Mary Sheffield's administration is emphasizing safety concerns and ongoing relocation assistance. However, tenants and advocates argue that this approach does not address long-standing issues tied to ignored maintenance and unpaid utilities.
"We're worried 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," says McCarty.
The Leland House ownership has secured approval for the online sale, with a Delaware-based entity serving as a $3.5 million stalking-horse bidder. The sale is expected to close in early April.
In response to the crisis, the city's Housing and Revitalization Department (HRD) has provided hotel accommodations and wraparound services to displaced residents, including transportation, employment support, and housing navigation. However, tenants are concerned that relocation assistance is not a substitute for due process or their right to return home if conditions improve.
The battle for the Leland House highlights the struggles of long-term tenants in Detroit's distressed housing market. "This is a matter of resident safety as the building has been deemed unsafe to enter by the Fire Marshall," said Deputy Mayor Brian White in a statement. "Ultimately, this is about finding solutions that prioritize resident well-being and address the underlying issues plaguing our city."
As the auction date approaches, tenant advocates are urging Judge Oxholm to reconsider the court order allowing for the removal of residents' possessions and to block any sale that does not protect their right to return if the building is made safe again. The fate of the Leland House remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the struggles of its tenants will continue until a lasting solution is found.
The fate of the historic 20-story Leland House in downtown Detroit hangs in the balance, with tenants scrambling to prevent a potential March auction that could push them out permanently. The building, which has been plagued by electrical failures and neglect, is owned by a Delaware-based entity seeking to sell it through bankruptcy.
As the timeline for the auction approaches, tenant advocates are urging U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Maria Oxholm to intervene, citing concerns over privacy, due process, and the potential loss of irreplaceable belongings. The tenants' union has filed emergency motions in an effort to preserve their leases and prevent the removal of their possessions without their consent.
According to housing advocates, the auction timeline, combined with a January court order authorizing the removal of residents' possessions, created an urgent need for action. "We realized very quickly that if nothing was done, tenants were going to miss the window to be heard," says Donovan McCarty, director of the Housing Justice Clinic at Michigan State University's College of Law.
Residents who were forced to evacuate the building in December after an electrical failure knocked out power, heat, and elevators are now facing a long-term displacement. Many had believed that their displacement would be temporary, but instead, they were locked out, with personal belongings left behind inside the building.
The city's fire marshal made the decision to block access to residents, and Mayor Mary Sheffield's administration is emphasizing safety concerns and ongoing relocation assistance. However, tenants and advocates argue that this approach does not address long-standing issues tied to ignored maintenance and unpaid utilities.
"We're worried 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," says McCarty.
The Leland House ownership has secured approval for the online sale, with a Delaware-based entity serving as a $3.5 million stalking-horse bidder. The sale is expected to close in early April.
In response to the crisis, the city's Housing and Revitalization Department (HRD) has provided hotel accommodations and wraparound services to displaced residents, including transportation, employment support, and housing navigation. However, tenants are concerned that relocation assistance is not a substitute for due process or their right to return home if conditions improve.
The battle for the Leland House highlights the struggles of long-term tenants in Detroit's distressed housing market. "This is a matter of resident safety as the building has been deemed unsafe to enter by the Fire Marshall," said Deputy Mayor Brian White in a statement. "Ultimately, this is about finding solutions that prioritize resident well-being and address the underlying issues plaguing our city."
As the auction date approaches, tenant advocates are urging Judge Oxholm to reconsider the court order allowing for the removal of residents' possessions and to block any sale that does not protect their right to return if the building is made safe again. The fate of the Leland House remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the struggles of its tenants will continue until a lasting solution is found.
. Those poor people who lived in that building had no idea it was going to be sold through bankruptcy and they'd have to fight for their stuff back. It's not like the city just woke up one day and decided to kick them out - it's been an issue with electrical failures and neglect, and still the city is more concerned about getting rid of them than fixing the problems. And now they're being forced to move into hotel rooms without any real support for finding a new place to live? It's just not right. We should be focusing on making that building safe again, not trying to auction it off as quickly as possible 
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This whole situation is really concerning for me... I mean, I get that the building has been neglected and there are some major issues with electrical failures, but can't we find a way to fix it without pushing all the tenants out? 
The fact that they're having to auction off the building so quickly feels like just another example of how corporations don't always have the residents' best interests at heart.
It feels like we need to find ways to hold people in power accountable for fixing these kinds of issues, not just pushing them out.
. They've been living in that building with broken electricals and no heat, and now you're telling them they have to leave because of it? That's just cruel. And what about all their stuff? Their belongings are still stuck in there, and they don't even get a say in what happens to it.
. They're providing hotel rooms and some basic support, but that's not going to cut it for long-term tenants who are trying to rebuild their lives. It's all about prioritizing profits over people, sadly.
. I mean, can't we just have some basic fairness here?
. These tenants deserve better than to be treated like disposable people. We need to make sure they get the justice they deserve! 
. but here's the thing - the building's been in shambles 4 ages, w/ no heat, power, or elevators 
! they were forced 2 evacuate in dec w/ their stuff left behind & now they're stuck w/ nowhere 2 go 
. and now the tenants r facin this auction thing where their stuff might get sold 2 some stranger & they'll never see it again 
this is just not fair! i mean, the city's been neglecting that building for ages and now they're trying to kick out the people who've been living there? 
it's like they don't care about their stories or what happened to them.
or provide some kind of relocation assistance that's not just temporary 
i hope the judge listens to those tenant advocates and helps them out 
Detroit's Leland House is on the brink of disaster! 
. The city's housing advocates are fighting hard to protect their rights and ensure that they get a fair shot at returning home. I mean, who wouldn't want to come back to their own place after being displaced? 
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️. Can you imagine having to leave everything behind, including your personal belongings? It's traumatic 
. And now they're facing a long-term displacement? That's just not fair 
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- it's like they're rushing through everything without even considering the consequences... 
That seems like a basic human right to me.
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. This is not just some random building; it's about people who call that place home 
. I hope Judge Oxholm listens to the tenants' concerns and does something to help them out