Detroit City Council Meeting: July 9, 2026 - Public Comments and Obsolete Property Rehabilitation District Hearing
Detroit City Council Meeting: July 9, 2026 - Public Comments and Obsolete Property Rehabilitation District Hearing
On July 9, 2026, the Detroit City Council held a regular meeting. Councilmember Johnson presided, with Councilmember Gabriela Santiago Romero absent. The council approved the minutes and heard general public comment from 13 callers on topics including blight, bus tickets, insurance, and property tax concerns. The council then opened four public hearings (scheduled for 10:20, 10:25, 10:30, and 10:35), but only the 10:20 hearing regarding an obsolete property rehabilitation district at 8547 West Werner was substantially discussed. The hearing was recessed before a vote, and the status of the other hearings was not detailed.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Dr. Denise Starnell Brown promoted a public safety fund day on July 18th and a citizen blight patrol meeting, urging residents to use the Detroit app to report concerns.
- Cunningham requested more bus tickets, vehicle repair assistance, and a sense of urgency for D-Dot bus service, leaving his contact number for follow-up.
- William M. Davis advocated for the city to offer will, trust, and financial planning classes for retirees and current workers, and suggested exploring ways to lower auto and homeowners insurance costs.
- Jay urged everyone to read the Willie Lynch letter, describing it as a 1712 speech on psychological control.
- Black Bag expressed frustration over being cut off from public comment and disputed a suicide tag on a friend's mother, calling himself a Detroit legend.
- Betty A. Barner (President, Soda Elsewhere Black Association) requested council support for a mini market proposed by Mr. Dabbitt and his sons, funding for redevelopment, and promoted an August 1st back-to-school event.
- Jadante Smith criticized a candidate forum with limited slots and the Detroit Land Bank Authority, and reported an unfixed sinkhole in District 5.
- Cindy Dara questioned the city's solar farm property purchases: spending over $1 million for eight houses and then selling those plus eight more for $180,000 to a developer. She also asked about tax capture on an education millage.
- You Matter (Miss Warwick) asked why she was cut off in a prior public comment, requested a written rule, and questioned the solar plan, lack of community benefits, and property sales.
- Tahira Ahmad commented on a lynching of Nolan Wells in Mississippi, requested public awareness campaigns, and noted that Pro Tempore Coleman Young II initially voted against property tax reform.
- Beverly Kendall Walker supported the rezoning of 1140 Connor for the Aviation Institute of Maintenance workforce development project.
- Samsung S M G991U asked how to use the C Click Fix app and requested help with tree trimming, prompting the chair to arrange for District 3 Department of Neighborhoods to follow up.
- Marguerite Maddox and Scarlet complained about inoperable elevators in her building and a pothole, with the chair promising to contact BC and DPW.
Discussion Items
- Obsolete Property Rehabilitation District (10:20 Hearing): The council considered a request from 8547 West Werner LLC (developer Bobby Lewis, Lewis Holdings Development) to establish a PA 146 obsolete property rehabilitation district for a mixed-use project at 8605 West Werner (formerly 8547 West Werner) in Council District 6. The project involves a $1.6 million rehabilitation of a blighted building into 7,200 square feet: 3,100 square feet of residential space (four two-bedroom units, all at 60-70% Area Median Income) and 3,600 square feet of commercial space. The developer commits to maintaining affordability for the life of the 12-year tax abatement. City staff (Alton from the DGC) confirmed eligibility, strategic benefits (affordable units, blight elimination, community amenity), economic benefits (10 temporary construction jobs, 1 permanent job, space for two local businesses), and fiscal benefits (12-year tax benefit of $62,868, or about $5,239 per year). The DGC determined the project meets the "but for" requirement, as the developer would not cover debt service without the incentive. Existing annual taxes are approximately $9,870; after construction, unabated taxes would be $27,985, and with the abatement, $15,185. The architect described universal design features, energy efficiency, and connection to the Joe Louis Greenway. The hearing was called to order, recessed, recalled, and then recessed again before a vote.
Key Outcomes
- The council approved the minutes from the previous meeting.
- The 10:20 public hearing for the obsolete property rehabilitation district was recessed to the call of the chair, with no vote taken. The status of the three other scheduled public hearings was not resolved in the transcript.
- No formal votes or decisions were made on the agenda items discussed.
Meeting Transcript
Johnson present. Councilmember Gabriela Santiago Romero. Member Santiago Romero did indicate that she would not be present today. Clerk was so notes. Council President Pro Tempera Coman A. Young the Second. Thanks for putting that pro tempere on there here. Madam Chair, you have a quorum present. Thank you. Having a quorum present, we are now in session. And good morning, pro tempere. Is there a motion to approve the minutes? Vote to approve. Hearing no objections, that action shall be taken. We are going to move into general public comment. If you are joining us and would like to make a general public comment, please raise your hand. Public comment will be cut off at 1010 in two minutes. Seeing no hands raised in the committee of the whole. We have 15 hands raised. All right, we're gonna give general public comment one minute 30 seconds. We do have four public hearings on the agenda today. If you will please set the clock, we will get started with our first virtual caller. No first caller is Dr. Denise Starnell. Dr. Denise Darnell, you have one minute, 30 seconds for general public comment. Well, good morning. Can I be heard? Good morning, yes. Okay, Dr. Denise Darnell Brown here. And member Angela Whitfield Callaway's just for two newsletter that came out this week. There's a public safety fund day, Saturday, July 18th from 1 to 5 o'clock p.m. at the Palmer Park Van Shell near the 12th precinct for the whole family. It's open and free to the public. Included as one of the activities will be gun safety tips, which I feel will prove to be beneficial and help people understand how to be responsible gun owners. I also heard a caller earlier this week voiced concerns about blight and overgrown grass in her community. I attended member Whitfield Callaway's center citywide blight patrol meeting in collaboration with the Detroit police held on June 29th at the Adams Buffalo Recreation Center. She's requested an ordinance establishing the citizen neighborhood blight patrol. So there'll be an opportunity for people to apply and sign up to be on patrol reporting blight in our city. I know more information on this will be forthcoming, but in the meantime, people can use the improved Detroit app, which I found to be very effective to report on anything they have a concern with. I showed my own grandson how he could report a broken street sign near his school, and the next day it was fixed. Thank you very much. God bless you all. Thank you. And God bless you. And thank you for sharing that information. We do try to get it out to residents so they are able to communicate any concerns they have within their area. The next caller. The next caller is Cunningham.
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