Detroit is asking a judge for the green light to take over a vacant apartment complex on the west side after years of illegal dumping, squatting and short-lived cleanups that never stuck. City crews recently boarded up broken windows and hauled away mounds of trash from the building, which neighbors say has been a stubborn hazard for the entire block. City officials say the long-term goal is to lock the property down and eventually get the apartments back into the rental market.
The Detroit Law Department has filed two lawsuits against the current owner and wants a judge to give the city control so it can secure the building and, if the court allows, sell it to a developer to overhaul the units. Officials say they already have two default judgments tied to earlier tickets, and inspectors have racked up nearly $100,000 in fines tied to the site. Crews have put up extra fencing and added security cameras while sealing the structure. Corporation counsel Conrad Mallett Jr. told WXYZ that the owner has not responded to the city, and that Detroit will ask a judge to hold the owner responsible.
The troubled property sits at 16831 Greenfield near Six Mile, where a viral cellphone video finally blasted the problem into public view. Residents and nearby business owners shared clips showing mountains of garbage and people cutting through the lot. Neighbors told reporters the place has turned into “an eyesore,” and some even joined in the most recent cleanup effort. The address and those viral videos were first pulled into the spotlight by local coverage, as reported by ClickOnDetroit.
How the court fight works
If the judge sides with the city, Detroit would have authority to treat the complex as a legal nuisance, secure the building, clean it up and place liens to recover ongoing maintenance and cleanup costs. The city could then transfer control to a buyer willing to rehabilitate the apartments. City lawyers say the existing default judgments and stack of unresolved tickets bolster Detroit’s case as officials keep trying to serve the owner with fresh court documents. What happens next will depend on when the case lands on the court’s calendar and whether the owner decides to push back.
What’s next
City officials say they are still working to formally serve the owner and expect a judge to review Detroit’s request in the coming weeks. Neighbors say they will be paying close attention to see whether the legal fight finally delivers a permanent solution. Councilwoman Mary Waters, a consistent voice on the city’s anti-blight efforts, told WXYZ that Michigan needs stronger state laws to support tougher penalties for negligent landlords. For now, residents say the new cameras and fresh boards are a cautious step in the right direction, but they are waiting to see if this time the fix actually lasts.
