Detroit City Council Dangerous Buildings Hearing - February 9, 2026
Detroit City Council Public Health and Safety Standing Committee Dangerous Buildings Hearing - February 9, 2026
The Public Health and Safety Standing Committee, chaired by Councilmember Gabriela Santiago Romero and joined by Councilmembers Denzel Anton McCampbell and Mary Waters, held a dangerous buildings hearing on February 9, 2026, to review approximately 50 properties recommended for demolition. The hearing served as a legally required administrative appeal from earlier informal hearings at the Department of Building Safety, Engineering, and Environmental Department (BSEED). Many property owners and residents expressed frustration with the city's aggressive demolition process, particularly for occupied or marginally maintained properties.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Martin Berg (neighbor of 7728 Kirchhoff) – The property was withdrawn from the demolition list because it is historic. Mr. Berg asked about future public input and the timeline for the withdrawal. The council noted the property owner has been contacted and must maintain the property to avoid future demolition.
- Christian Berman (resident at 5235 Florida Street) – Claimed his occupied home was erroneously placed on the demolition list after a neighbor complaint. He reported city crews damaged his shed, fence, trees, and porch, and that a certified letter was fraudulently signed. The property was withdrawn; the council offered to discuss the damages offline.
- Portland Hewling (resident at 8138 East Grixdale) – Stated her home is occupied and she is making repairs in phases. She complained of repeated inspections and fees despite her efforts, and requested help with funding. The council sent the property back to BSEED for more time and permits.
- Edric Jenkins (owner of 1922 Harned) – Said his home was occupied after a fire and that the city’s photos were taken after the fire, not showing current conditions. He is making repairs. The council sent the property back to BSEED for re-inspection.
- Ugo (owner of 1441 Livernois) – Expressed confusion and frustration that his property, which he said was always well-maintained and fenced, was ordered demolished for minor issues (open windows that were quickly boarded). He noted the city required painting of exposed wood, which he found excessive. The council sent the property back to BSEED, acknowledging an internal mix-up.
- Caller ending in 072 (377 West Grand Street) – Thanked the council for withdrawing his property and urged the city to offer more help with roof repairs and not be too aggressive with residents trying to keep their homes.
- Danny Harani (representing Team Wellness Center, 6301 Mack Avenue) – Reported that a former liquor store property, now renovated into a crisis center, was wrongly placed on the demolition list despite substantial investment and compliance with vacant property registration. The council withdrew the property.
- Lawrence (attorney for owner of 4574 Belvidere) – Said the owner, a world-class musician, had secured the property and placed a tarp on the roof in winter, but was ordered to pull permits. Councilmember Waters moved to return the property to BSEED, noting prior compliance.
- Quincy Jones (developer of 13334 Gratiot) – Explained he is working with the city, has pulled permits, and is committed to renovating the property. The council sent the property back to BSEED.
- Jim (real estate agent for 4887 Courtland) – Reported that repairs were completed and photos emailed multiple times without response from BSEED, wasting the council’s time. The property was withdrawn.
Discussion Items
- Chair Santiago Romero expressed deep concern that a third of residents are below the poverty level and that the city’s push for permits and aggressive demolition adds stress to homeowners. She noted that several properties on the list were already occupied or being actively worked on, indicating a disconnect between inspections and reality. She called for a meeting with the mayor to discuss systemic changes and a possible online dashboard to let residents track their property status (like a pizza tracker).
- LPD (Legislative Policy Division) explained that the council is implementing a state statute not designed for Detroit’s massive vacancy and blight crisis. He noted the frustration stems from a policy gap that has existed for decades, and that larger public policy changes are needed outside these hearings.
- Councilmember Mary Waters supported the idea of an online tracking system and acknowledged the unnecessary burden on residents who spent hours online only to hear their properties were already withdrawn.
Key Outcomes
- Properties withdrawn from demolition list (moons concurred without objection): 7728 Kirchhoff, 5235 Florida St, 377 West Grand St, 14247 Marlowe, 4887 Courtland, 6301 Mack Ave, 8711 Orange Lawn, and others as noted in the transcript (e.g., 10150 Mack, 18820 Conley, etc.).
- Properties sent back to BSEED for more time/reinspection: 1922 Harned, 8138 East Grixdale, 5126 31st St, 13142 Myers, 1441 Livernois, 4574 Belvidere, 13334 Gratiot, and several others.
- Properties ordered demolished (concurred with BSEED recommendation): 1991 Derby, 3156 Annabelle, 3315 Annabelle, 4016 Bagley, 12426 Barlow, 3051 Belvedere, 3785 Blaine, 505 East Boston, 15781 Cruz, 19981 Derby, 1720 Detroit, 1324 Dexter, 7441 Ellsworth, 17394 Fenton, 4259 West Grant, 17309 Greeley, 20057 Hana, and others as listed in the final block concurrences.
- Cost analysis referrals: The chair moved to send several properties (e.g., 1303 Ashland, 18713 Avon, 10669 Bonita, 8175 Ellsworth, 14579 La Pine) back to BSEED for a cost analysis on demolition, which were approved.
- Chair’s directive: Committee will request a meeting with the mayor to review the dangerous buildings process, explore an online tracking system, and address resident concerns about aggressive enforcement and lack of resources for home repairs.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon, everyone. Thank you all for being here. I would like to call back into session our public health and safety standing committee for today, February 9th, 2026, for the purposes of our dangerous buildings hearings. Madam Clerk, will you please call the roll? Councilmember Gabriela Santiago Romero. Present. Councilmember Denzel Anton McCampbell. Present. Councilmember Mary Waters. Madam Chair, you have a quorum. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Given a quorum, we'll go right into the hearings for this afternoon. As mentioned earlier, we have around 50 properties before us for hearings for today. I will turn it over to the administration first to share with the public what they can expect before I turn it over to our legislative policy division. Good afternoon to the chair. For owners of property here today, if City Council orders your building to be demolished, you have the opportunity to go to the building safety and environmental engineering department located in room 418. I request a deferral of the demolition order. This means that you must do the following. Pay all required inspection fees. Secure all openings on your building from trespass and elements and remove all exterior debris, abandoned vehicles, overgrowth, etc. Pay or make arrangements regarding any delinquent city taxes. Obtain the necessary permits to bring your building into compliance with all applicable codes and submit a completed deferral application. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, Mr. Washington LPD. Thank you, Madam Chair. In addition to the important information just provided by the administration's representative by the nature of these hearings and the consequences and options and so forth. People should be aware that these are legally required administrative appeal hearings from previous informal hearings held at the Department of Building Safety Engineering and Environment. This is the as I say it's legally required the local legislature through this committee, either give the thumbs up or the thumbs down to the department's recommendations as to the 50 or 60 buildings on today's list as to whether they should be continued on the demolition list in order to assist the committee in their deliberations and to provide due process. Representatives of the department are here with photos and the files. Thank you. Thank you. If the clerk can please note we've been joined by Member Waters. Thank you. We will now turn it over to B seed to introduce themselves. My name is Dili Patel. I'm the assistant at the property maintenance uh building and safety department. That's very dangerous buildings, clerk. Thank you both for being here. And as had been mentioned, these are hearings for folks who may not have done these with us before. Uh we do have a number of properties before us. I try to keep these hearings at about five minutes each to respect your time and to ensure that we help you however we can. If you are at this point and you would like to uh prevent your building from being demolished, we will ask you some questions to see whether or not we can help you. If you decide that you want to demolish, we will support you in those efforts as well. Uh we will discuss um with our hearings when we're in our hearings. We're going to take the folks that we have here in person first. Uh so anyone that is here in person, if you are here for a hearing, please raise your hands now. I see one person with their hand up, two people with their hand up. I'll go with the people that I saw first. So, gentlemen with the glasses.
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