Detroit Public Health and Safety Committee Dangerous Buildings Hearing - May 4, 2026
Detroit Public Health and Safety Standing Committee Dangerous Buildings Hearing - May 4, 2026
The Detroit City Council's Public Health and Safety Standing Committee held a virtual dangerous buildings hearing on Monday, May 4, 2026, to consider administrative appeals from property owners whose buildings were placed on the demolition list by the Buildings, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department (BSEED). The committee reviewed 40+ properties, with outcomes including withdrawals from the demolition list, orders for demolition, and referrals back to BSEED for further work. The hearing included testimony from property owners, discussions with BSEED Chief Patel and staff, and deliberation by Councilmembers.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Kissan Howard (4125 Helen): Property withdrawn from demolition list after issues addressed.
- Connor/Enrique (1116 Vinewood): Property withdrawn; owner expressed gratitude.
- Richard Lecher (8797 West Lafayette): Wanted to keep property; property occupied by prior owner who caused fire. Richard described insurance claim, eviction attempts, and language barrier with occupants. Councilmember Santiago Romero offered assistance and referred to HRD. Property sent back to BSEED.
- Roger (8716 Third): Wanted to keep property; had a $400,000 MSHDA grant for affordable housing restoration. Work underway on foundation; openings left for demo work. Council recommended posting permit and sending progress updates to BSEED. Property sent back to BSEED.
- David Hibitt (18424 Norwood): Occupant and deed holder; property withdrawn but BSEED noted collapsed garage and roof issues. Council advised sending photos of repairs to BSEED.
- Some A (216 East Greendale): Property withdrawn; owner reported addressing debris and windows, but BSEED noted an open window. Owner committed to securing it.
- Elisa Isabella (2467 S Edsel): Purchased property last month; unaware of demolition list. Crew stopped work upon seeing notice. BSEED noted open doors/windows, overgrowth, and garage issues. Property sent back to BSEED; owner agreed to secure and send updates.
- Raphael (9422 Coil): Wanted to keep property; cited personal struggles. BSEED noted multiple openings and overgrowth. Property sent back to BSEED with instructions to board up and clean.
- Miss Young (13781 Sparling): Wanted to keep property; recovering from injury; grandson cleaned yard. BSEED noted open elements, overgrowth, damaged windows, deteriorated roof. Property sent back to BSEED.
- Anita Lowe (5823 Fields): Speaking for husband; out-of-state owners. Back of house too deteriorated to board; considering demolition. Council encouraged early decision to avoid city demolition lien. Property sent back to BSEED.
- Eric Prayer (4309 Seabolt): Wanted to keep property; addressed overgrowth and would board up in a few days. Property sent back to BSEED.
- Prior Investment Group (309 Seabolt): Initially unreachable, later reconnected; same property as Eric Prayer.
Discussion Items
- Chair Santiago Romero outlined the hearing process: owners can request extensions if they present viable plans; properties with occupants cannot be demolished.
- BSEED Chief Patel described inspection findings for each property, including structural damage, openings, overgrowth, and fire damage.
- Councilmember Waters questioned property title validity for David Hibitt, noting deed fraud concerns.
- Councilmember McCampbell moved to send 15864 Eastburn (Real Token property) back to BSEED for cost analysis due to concerns about Real Token's neglect and potential housing loss. Motion carried.
- Councilmember Waters expressed concern about Real Token properties and lack of accountability; the committee sent Eastburn back to investigate legal options.
- Out-of-state owners and language barriers were noted as challenges in property upkeep.
Key Outcomes
- Withdrawn from demolition list: 4125 Helen, 1116 Vinewood, 18424 Norwood (with conditions), 216 East Greendale, 8086 Almont, 12854 Bentler, 1776 Scranton, 4303 West Euclid, 19535 Fair Point, 18910 Fairway, 4125 Helen, 19670 John R (demolished?), 557 Joy (demolished?), 6450 Lagrange (demolished?), 2429 S Littlesdale (demolished?), 3859 Manistique (demolished?), 9190 Schaefer (demolished?), 3671 Sheridan (demolished?), 6408 Sparta, 8004 Townsend (demolished?), 9153 Ventin – actual motion: concurrent with withdrawn items per blocks.
- Sent back to BSEED: 8797 West Lafayette, 8716 Third, 2467 S Edsel, 9422 Coil, 5823 Fields, 4309 Seabolt, 13781 Sparling, 15864 Eastburn (for cost analysis), 12863 Fielding (for cost analysis).
- Ordered demolished: 140 Edgeville, 15497 Faircrest, 12863 Field Lane, 557 Joy, 6450 Lagrange, 2429 S Littlesdale, 3859 Manistique, 9190 Schaefer, 3671 Sheridan, 8004 Townsend (plus others without motion objection).
- All motions to concur with block recommendations passed without objection, except where individual motions were made to send properties back.
- Committee adjourned after processing all callers and remaining properties.
Meeting Transcript
To order our public health and safety standing committee for the purposes of our dangerous buildings hearings for today, Monday, May 4th, 2026. May the clerk please call the roll. Councilmember Gabriela Santiago Romero. Present. Council Member Denzel and Tom McCampbell. Present. Councilmember Mary Waters. Madam Chair, you have a quorum present. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Given a quorum, we'll go right into the hearings for today. If you are here for a hearing, if you are online and you are calling in for a hearing, we will turn it over to the administration to share with you what you can expect before I turn it over to LPD. I just realized I started this meeting without LPD. Maybe they'll join us before uh before we get to them. But to the administration, if you wouldn't mind sharing with the public what they can expect from these hearings. It should be Mr. Washington. Oh, sorry. They are not on yet. One second. Okay. While we wait for the administration and for LPD, I might um briefly pause us because I want to make sure that they're both there. Um while we wait for all the players to join us, um, if you are listening in and you're here for a hearing, please raise your hands now. We will be conducting these hearings uh virtually. Uh so I don't see anybody here in the audience in person for a hearing, so I'm going to assume that we have folks online for today's session. Um so again, if you are online and you are here for a hearing, please raise your hand and we'll make sure to add you to our queue. If we can please note member waters has joined us. So noted, madam chair. Thank you. All right. Do we have anyone from the administration? And then once you've been moved over, if you can please state your name and title for the public. Who do we have as a participant with us? Yeah, madam chair. We just have Javon Perry with us up. Oh, okay. So no one from the administration is on the call with us. We will flag this for them. As soon as we see Mr. Washington, we can make him into a panelist. And this does give the public time to raise their hands. We're going to create a queue. And while we wait for the administration, just to give a brief overview to folks listening in. Uh when we conduct these hearings, I try to respect your time and produce these as quickly as possible while helping you in whatever outcome you need. Many times people call in uh at this process, they are looking to keep their property. If you are, I'm going to be asking you for your plans to address the issues laid out by BC. If we uh if if we believe that you have um a plan in place uh that can prevent the property from being dangerous, we will support an extension. That's all based on the conversation that we have, or if we believe um that there is no way to save the property, or that we can agree with you to demolish if you're looking to demolish the property as well. We're here to support you as well, Mr. Washington. Good afternoon through the chair, and my apologies for my delay.
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