Detroit's Leland House Faces Auction, Tenants Cry Out for Intervention as Eviction Timeline Unfolds
A notorious Detroit landmark, the historic 20-story Leland House in downtown Detroit is on the brink of an auction that has left its tenants fighting for their right to stay. The building, which has been plagued by maintenance issues and unpaid utilities, faces a potential March sale through bankruptcy proceedings.
As the deadline for the auction approaches, housing advocates have filed emergency motions with U.S. Bankruptcy Court in a bid to preserve their leases and prevent their belongings from being removed without consent. The Leland House Tenants Union, which represents residents of the building, is seeking a court intervention to block the sale and protect the tenants' rights.
The situation began in December when an electrical failure knocked out power, heat, and elevators at the building. Many residents were left believing that the displacement would be temporary, only to find themselves locked out with personal belongings still inside. The city's fire marshal subsequently blocked access to the building, leaving many without a means of returning home.
Tenants and advocacy groups now fear that they are being pushed out permanently under the guise of emergency cleanup. They argue that their right to return home if conditions improve is being disregarded in favor of an accelerated auction timeline.
"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, which represents residents alongside private attorneys. "The idea of moving their stuff out without them present is an invasion of privacy."
The city has promised relocation assistance and transportation services to help displaced residents, but housing advocates say this is not a substitute for due process or a guarantee that tenants will be allowed to return home if conditions improve.
In a statement, Julie Schneider, director of the Detroit Housing & Revitalization Department (HRD), acknowledged that the administration had been supportive of wraparound services provided to affected residents. However, housing advocates say this is insufficient and that they are pushing for reforms that would prioritize long-term tenants' rights.
The sale of the Leland House comes as a major concern in the eyes of local authorities. The building's owner has sought court approval to auction off the property, with a Delaware-based entity serving as a $3.5 million stalking-horse bidder. If approved, the online auction would be conducted by Ten-X and brokered by Savills.
As the fate of the Leland House hangs in the balance, its tenants remain determined to fight for their rights and secure a future that will allow them to return home if conditions improve.
A notorious Detroit landmark, the historic 20-story Leland House in downtown Detroit is on the brink of an auction that has left its tenants fighting for their right to stay. The building, which has been plagued by maintenance issues and unpaid utilities, faces a potential March sale through bankruptcy proceedings.
As the deadline for the auction approaches, housing advocates have filed emergency motions with U.S. Bankruptcy Court in a bid to preserve their leases and prevent their belongings from being removed without consent. The Leland House Tenants Union, which represents residents of the building, is seeking a court intervention to block the sale and protect the tenants' rights.
The situation began in December when an electrical failure knocked out power, heat, and elevators at the building. Many residents were left believing that the displacement would be temporary, only to find themselves locked out with personal belongings still inside. The city's fire marshal subsequently blocked access to the building, leaving many without a means of returning home.
Tenants and advocacy groups now fear that they are being pushed out permanently under the guise of emergency cleanup. They argue that their right to return home if conditions improve is being disregarded in favor of an accelerated auction timeline.
"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, which represents residents alongside private attorneys. "The idea of moving their stuff out without them present is an invasion of privacy."
The city has promised relocation assistance and transportation services to help displaced residents, but housing advocates say this is not a substitute for due process or a guarantee that tenants will be allowed to return home if conditions improve.
In a statement, Julie Schneider, director of the Detroit Housing & Revitalization Department (HRD), acknowledged that the administration had been supportive of wraparound services provided to affected residents. However, housing advocates say this is insufficient and that they are pushing for reforms that would prioritize long-term tenants' rights.
The sale of the Leland House comes as a major concern in the eyes of local authorities. The building's owner has sought court approval to auction off the property, with a Delaware-based entity serving as a $3.5 million stalking-horse bidder. If approved, the online auction would be conducted by Ten-X and brokered by Savills.
As the fate of the Leland House hangs in the balance, its tenants remain determined to fight for their rights and secure a future that will allow them to return home if conditions improve.
but like i gotta say i see a glimmer of hope here? 
even though it's super tough on these people, the fact that there are advocates fighting for their rights and trying to get the city to do better is everything 
like seriously can't we just have one building where the tenants are treated with dignity and respect? 
i mean don't get me wrong the situation is dire but let's not give up on them yet! 
we should be pushing for reforms that prioritize long-term tenants' rights, that's the way forward 
this is just crazy...like they're gonna auction off someones home without even giving em a chance to move out on their own 
the city's fire marshal blocking access to the building already? that's like, extreme...and now they're trying to push them out for an 'emergency cleanup' 
meanwhile, the city's offering relocation assistance and transportation services but that ain't gonna cut it when you've got a family of 4 stuck in this building with no heat or electricity 
what's next? is the whole city just gonna be auctioned off to the highest bidder? 
The city's fire marshal should've just given them more time to sort out the issues instead of cutting them off like that. It's always about timing in these situations... 
. The city's response sounds pretty half-hearted, just offering relocation assistance but no guarantee of returning home when things get better 
. I mean, isn't that what we're all supposed to be fighting for in the first place? A safe and stable place to call our own? It's crazy that it has to come down to some auction process... can't they just work together to find a solution? 
I hope those tenants' advocates keep pushing for reforms, maybe then we'll see some real change 
. The owners of the Leland House are basically pushing out innocent tenants with no regard for their well-being or rights. I mean, come on, an electrical failure and suddenly they're trying to auction off the whole building? It's like they're trying to make a quick buck off people who need a safe place to live.
. Like, what's that supposed to do? Help them find a new place to live? No, it just means they'll be stuck in limbo, waiting for someone to decide if they're worthy of staying in their own home.
. The city's trying to spin this as some kind of emergency cleanup, but let's be real, that's just a cop-out. They're not actually doing anything to help the tenants; they're just using it as an excuse to push them out.
. These big corporations and governments are always more interested in making money than in doing what's right by people. It's a never-ending cycle of exploitation, and I'm just waiting for the next shoe to drop 
.
. These tenants are being forced to leave their homes without any real guarantee of where they'll go or how they'll get back in if things improve 
. I don't think relocation assistance is going to cut it, either - it's just a Band-Aid on a bigger problem 
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. It's not just about their stuff, it's about their homes and community 
. The city should be helping them find new places to live 
, not just promising relocation assistance with strings attached 
.
, it's like they're trying to get rid of the tenants before anyone can even process what's happening 
. And the idea that their stuff will be removed without consent? That's a total invasion of privacy 
! The city needs to step in and protect these people 
.
, but it's about time someone spoke up for these tenants 
. It's a sad situation all around 
no way can we let this happen detroit deserves better 
The city's already promising relocation services, but that's not gonna cut it when you're dealing with actual human lives here. We need to make sure the long-term tenants have a say in their own homes! 
i hope some kind of intervention happens ASAP 
. The city says they'll help with relocation, but that's not really the same as having a place to call home if you want it back.