Detroit Public Health and Safety Committee Dangerous Buildings Hearing - April 20, 2026
Detroit Public Health and Safety Committee Dangerous Buildings Hearing - April 20, 2026
The Detroit City Council Public Health and Safety Standing Committee convened on April 20, 2026, for a dangerous buildings hearing. The committee heard appeals from property owners regarding approximately 80 buildings recommended for demolition by the Buildings, Safety Engineering, and Environmental Department (BSEED). Chair Gabriela Santiago-Romero presided. The session focused on whether buildings were dangerous and whether owners could demonstrate progress toward repair or demolition. Many properties were withdrawn or sent back to BSEED for further time; a smaller number were ordered for demolition. Widespread concerns about communication, ticketing, and notification processes were raised by property owners.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Multiple property owners expressed frustration with inconsistent notification, duplicate tickets, and fines arriving before or shortly after property purchase. Some reported receiving no notice until the hearing date or finding notices removed.
- Owners described financial strain, work already completed (e.g., tarping roofs, boarding windows, cleaning lots), and plans for full repairs. Several thanked BSEED for working with them but urged improvements in communication.
- One owner noted that the city's notice process leads to confusion and that tickets accumulate without proper notification. Another highlighted that vacant property registration was required but not communicated.
- A Spanish-speaking owner raised concerns about language access on notices and permits, and the committee acknowledged the need for translation services.
Discussion Items
- The committee heard an overview of the dangerous buildings process: owners who receive a demolition order may request a deferral by securing the building, paying fees, and obtaining permits.
- Individual hearings were conducted for property owners (in-person and online). Chair Santiago-Romero emphasized the committee's desire to help owners keep properties if they are willing to make repairs.
- BSEED Chief Patel and inspectors presented inspection findings for each property, including dates of inspections (primarily April 6–9, 2026) and descriptions of hazards such as open windows, roof damage, debris, and overgrowth.
- The chair noted the high number of withdrawn properties and acknowledged systemic communication failures, promising to work with BSEED and the administration to improve notification and ticketing processes.
- Vice Chair McCampbell raised the issue of translation services on notices, which the chair agreed to address.
- Member Waters offered her office to assist property owners with deed fraud concerns.
Key Outcomes
- The committee voted on the remainder of the dangerous buildings list in blocks. Final outcomes included:
- Withdrawn: Over 40 properties were removed from the demolition list after owners addressed immediate safety concerns (e.g., boarding windows, tarping roofs, clearing debris). Examples: 3807 Fullerton, 4574 Beldevere, 13334 Graschett, 8138 East Grixdale, 18625 Revere, 1922 Harned, 14417 Promenade, 2016 Yakima, 16165 Washburn, 5012 Helen, 9100 Quincy, 4201 Van Dyke, 18030 Mark, 4110 Wabash, 14224 Patent, 19716 Waltham, 8943 McLellan, 14579 Lapine, 12883 Terry.
- Sent back to BSEED: Approximately 15 properties were sent back for cost analysis or additional time. These included 1303 Ashland, 10669 Bonita, 9917 Carlin, 4763 Helen, Hereford (address not specified), 1360 LaSelle, 14029 Mark Twain, 6475 Seneca, 18646 St. Louis.
- Ordered demolish: About 20 properties were ordered for demolition, including 5427 Baldwin, 16840 Fenton, 2517 Ford, 1961 Glindale, 2253 Glynn, 180 West Hollywood, 5585 Joy, 14403 Linwood, 8128 Mac, 1955's Pelkey, 8096 Prairie, 540 Prairie, 14912 Rockdale, 3758 Rolf's Place (owner agreed to demolish), 16203 E7 Mile, 4213 Van Dyke, 12715 Ward, Woodvine.
- The committee also addressed a duplicate ownership concern for 2016 Yakima, referring the owner to Member Waters' office for deed fraud investigation.
- Chair Santiago-Romero committed to meeting with BSEED to improve communication and notification systems, and encouraged property owners to email her office with feedback.
- The meeting adjourned after processing all remaining blocks with no further callers.
Meeting Transcript
Afternoon, everyone. I would like to call to order our public health and safety standing committee for the purposes of our dangerous buildings hearings. May the clerk please call the roll. Yes, good afternoon. Councilmember Gabriela Santiago Romero. Good afternoon, present. Councilmember Denville and McCampbell. Councilmember Mary Waters. Present. Madam Chair, we have quorum. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Given a quorum, and I do know Member McCampbell will be joining us shortly. We'll go right into the hearings for today. For folks that are here for the first time, I will turn it over to the administration to share with you what you can expect from our dangerous buildings process and why you are here. I'll turn it over to the administration to whoever can provide us that overview. Good afternoon through the chair. Good afternoon. 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 14 and request a deferral of the demolition order. This means that you must do the following. Provide proof of ownership or interest in the property. Pay all required inspection fees, secure all openings on your building from trespass and the elements and remove all the exterior debris, abandoned vehicles, overgrowth, et cetera. 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. I will now turn it over to LPD. Thank you, Madam Chair. In addition to the overview of the nature and consequences of these hearings, just provided by a representative of the administration. People should be aware that in contrast to the more wide-ranging policy oriented discussions of the other sessions of this committee, these are legally required appellate administrative hearings from previous hearings, informal hearings with the Department of Building Safety Engineering and Environment about the approximately 80 dangerous buildings on today's dangerous buildings list. And rather than a full discussion of all the issues, uh what the law what the law directs the committee to do is to have a hearing on the question of whether the buildings are dangerous or not, as presented by the department representatives of the department are here in order to provide due process and so that the committee is fully informed with pictures and other information from the files. Thank you. Thank you. I will now turn it over to BC to introduce themselves. Thank you, Madam Chair. My name is Dili Portel. Um from the building and safety uh property maintenance tape. Thank you. Come on, Alaska Dangerous Building Clerk. Thank you both for joining us. Uh Javon Perry, I am reserved in this hearing today. I'm from DC. All right. Well, thanks for nice seeing you, Javon. Thanks for joining us. Um, you are going to be in good hands here with the team. So thanks everyone for your introductions and your overviews. Um, as has been shared, we are here to hear um from property owners directly. If you are looking to prevent your house from being demolished, or if you agree to demolish the property. Uh, if you are online and you are here for a hearing, please raise your hands now.
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