Years of neglect catch up to Detroit’s Leland House as residents forced out - Detroit Metro Times

Detroit's Iconic Leland House on Brink of Collapse: Residents Given Just Days to Leave Amid Outdated Electricity Bill

A holiday season crisis is unfolding at the historic Leland House in Detroit, where residents are being forced to vacate their homes due to a hefty electricity bill that DTE Energy has refused to waive. The 20-story apartment building, which was once a luxury hotel and four-star destination, has become mired in years of neglect, code violations, and mounting debt.

The Leland House Limited Partnership Company, owned by Michael Higgins' trust, owes DTE $43,000 for an electricity deposit that is due on December 3. If payment isn't made, the utility will cut off power to the building, rendering it uninhabitable. Management has given residents just a few days to move out.

The city of Detroit is taking action against the blighted property. The Detroit Law Department recently secured permission from U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Maria Oxholm to proceed with its state public nuisance case despite the building's Chapter 11 filing. The city will help residents relocate, and officials are working around the clock to prevent disruption.

The Leland House has a long history of safety failures, including a 2014 fire that revealed the standpipe system didn't work. A consent agreement requires the owners to fix elevators and address safety violations but has struggled to secure financing for repairs or pay off utility debts.

Ara Darakjian's Birmingham-based Tir Equities LLC has been trying to buy the Leland House, but they need major repairs completed and outstanding bills settled before the sale can proceed. DTE Energy says it works with customers to avoid shutoffs, but in this case, a solution is not available.

Residents are facing an uncertain future as they scramble to find new housing. The city's efforts to help residents relocate will be crucial to preventing long-term displacement and ensuring public safety.

this is so crazy the Leland House has been struggling for years & now its gonna affect all those ppl living there i feel bad for them, can u imagine not having a power cut on christmas? but seriously, how does this happen in a city like detroit where theres so much history & stuff? and what about the owners, michael higgins trust? shouldn't they be taking responsibility for their debt problems?

man I'm so frustrated for the people living there ... like, you'd think a historic building with that much history would get some sort of break from the city or DTE energy, but nope... the system is just too broken . It's crazy that someone owes $43k in electricity and can't even get a waiver, meanwhile the city is trying to step in to help out . I'm all for accountability, but some of these residents have been living there for years with nowhere else to go... what's gonna happen to them?

I'm so worried about the people living at Leland House . It's crazy that DTE Energy is refusing to waive the electricity bill, leaving residents with just days to find a new place to live. I get that the building needs repairs, but it doesn't seem like the owners are doing enough to fix the problems before asking for people to leave. The city of Detroit is trying to help, which is great, but it's not fair to the residents who are being forced out. They deserve a safe place to live .

This is so unfair the Leland House has been a part of Detroit's history for so long, but now it's being torn down by its own neglect... I mean, $43,000 electricity bill? That's like, crazy and nobody wants to help pay it. It's not just residents who are affected, either - it's the whole community .

And what really gets me is that this building has been struggling with safety issues for years ... a fire in 2014 was like, a major red flag . I feel bad for everyone involved, but at the same time, it's like, who's gonna foot the bill for all these repairs?

I hope those residents can find new places to live ASAP and that someone comes along to fix this mess

omg u guyz i was literally just talking about the leland house on reddit like 2 days ago i live in detroit and it's so sad to see our iconic landmarks fall apart they really need to do better with the electricity bill thingy, i feel bad for the residents who are being forced to leave their homes after all they've been through it's crazy that dte energy isn't willing to work with them more, like, can't they just try to find a solution? anyway, i'm glad the city is stepping in to help relocate everyone and make sure public safety is prioritized i hope something gets done soon so we can start seeing some progress on this

omg i feel so bad for those ppl living at the leland house they're literally being kicked out cuz of a stupid electricity bill it's just not right. i've been looking into the city's plans to help them relocate and it sounds like things are gonna get tough but hopefully they'll be able to find new homes soon i mean, can u imagine having to move out in the middle of winter? anyway, i'm hoping that the city's efforts will make a difference and those residents won't have to suffer too much

omg can't believe what's happening at the Leland House in Detroit! it's like, one of those iconic buildings that you'd think would be saved or restored, not abandoned because of outdated electricity bills dte energy is being super harsh, and I get that they need to get paid, but 20 days notice? that's crazy especially with the city stepping in to help residents relocate - hopefully they can find a way to get it fixed ASAP anyone else thinking about this situation?

OMG I'm literally shaking with rage...I mean, concern . Can't believe the Leland House is being treated like this. Like, what's going on here? The city's trying to help, but it feels like they're just being pushed around by the company and DTE Energy. It's not right .

I'm all about DIY solutions , so I think we should try to find ways to make these apartment buildings more energy-efficient without relying on these big corporations. Like, install solar panels or something! And it's not just about saving money, it's about safety and public health .

We need to rally around these residents and demand that the city takes action . They deserve better than to be forced out of their homes because of outdated electricity bills. It's like, we're living in a world where corporations are making decisions that affect people's lives without caring about the human impact .

This is seriously heartbreaking stuff. Can you imagine being given just days to leave your home over a bill that's supposed to be managed by the utility company? It's like they're saying, "Hey, good luck with that". The city of Detroit is stepping in, which is awesome, but what about all the other residents who can't even afford to leave?

The fact that the Leland House has been neglected for so long is mind-boggling. I mean, we know it's a historic building and all, but that doesn't excuse the lack of maintenance or investment into making it safe for its residents. And now, it's basically become a ticking time bomb.

I'm also really frustrated with DTE Energy here. They're supposed to be helping customers, not piling on the stress and uncertainty. It's just basic human decency, you know? The city needs to keep pushing for solutions that prioritize public safety and resident well-being, rather than letting a single utility bill dictate their fate.

I'm so worried about the people living at the Leland House... It's crazy that they're being forced to leave their homes over an electricity bill That's just not right. I think DTE Energy needs to help out more, like waive that bill or work with the residents to find a solution. They're already struggling to fix the building and pay off debts... And now they're cutting power? That'll be devastating for those living there.

I also don't get why the city can't do more to stop this from happening They've got resources to help people relocate, so it's a shame they're not doing more. It feels like the system is just failing these residents when they need help most The city needs to step in and make sure everyone has a place to call home.

I hope something changes soon... Maybe we can get some attention from local leaders or organizations to raise awareness about this issue

Man, can you believe what's going on at the Leland House? It's like something out of a horror movie They're literally giving people just days to leave because of an electricity bill that's been looming for years And now the city is taking action, but it's too little too late, if you ask me. I mean, this building has been neglected for so long, it's like they forgot about the people living there It's not just the residents who are affected, the whole community is going to be impacted by this mess.

I remember when the Leland House was all fancy and stuff It's crazy how much it's fallen off a cliff. And now we've got people facing homelessness because of some outdated bill? The city needs to step up their game and find a way to support these residents, not just kick them out on the street. It's like, what happened to all that progress we were supposed to make in Detroit? Anyway, I hope the city can get it together soon, this is just devastating

omg like i cant even think about the Leland House rn... its literally heartbreakin to see ppl being forced out of their homes cuz of some greedy electricity bill DTE Energy should really work with the owners to come up w/ a solution, not just cut off power and leave them high & dry. the city's doin a great job tryin 2 help tho, relocatin services & all gotta hope the new buyers come in & fix this place up good 4 real

Ugh, I'm so annoyed about the state of Detroit's infrastructure . This is just a prime example of how neglect and code violations can lead to some really dire situations. The fact that residents are being given such short notice to leave their homes over an outdated electricity bill is just heartbreaking . And don't even get me started on the safety issues - who allows a building with no functioning standpipe system to remain inhabited? It's a miracle nobody's gotten seriously hurt here yet. The city and DTE Energy need to work together to find a solution that doesn't leave these residents high and dry . This is just one more example of how the lack of investment in Detroit's infrastructure has left it on the brink of collapse .

I'm so worried about these people living at the Leland House. It's just unacceptable that they're being forced out because of a huge electricity bill. I mean, come on! DTE Energy needs to do more than just say they work with customers - they need to actually help them out.

And what's going on with the city? I feel like they're trying to cover their own backsides by taking action against the building. I get it, public safety is a big deal, but can't they find a way to help these people instead of just kicking them to the curb?

I'm also super annoyed that there are people like Michael Higgins and Ara Darakjian who are making all this money off of the Leland House while its residents are struggling. It's just not right.

This is so sad . I mean, the Leland House is like a part of Detroit's history you know? And now it's being torn apart by some huge bill . It's crazy that DTE Energy won't even work with them to find a solution. The city is doing its best though , trying to help residents find new homes and stuff. But what's gonna happen to the people who can't afford anything else? They're literally being forced out of their own homes . It's like, can't we just be kind for once? We need more empathy on this site , not less.

I'm literally shook by this news . Can't believe the Leland House, a historic building with such potential, is being held hostage by DTE Energy over an outdated electricity bill. It's not just about the residents' lives; it's also about the city of Detroit's reputation and safety standards.

It's crazy to think that some owners are more concerned with paying off debts than ensuring their buildings meet basic safety codes . And now, we're seeing the devastating consequences – families facing homelessness, uncertainty, and displacement . I'm all for a fair share of responsibility, but this is just ridiculous .

I hope the city's efforts to relocate residents and address public nuisance can help resolve this situation soon . We need more stories like this to shine a light on the importance of responsible property ownership and community care .