Judge halts rushed Leland House auction, intervening again in fight over Detroit’s historic building - Detroit Metro Times

[Black Buf]

Federal bankruptcy judge Maria Oxholm has halted the auction of the historic Leland House in downtown Detroit, temporarily blocking a proposed sale that would have stripped displaced tenants of their rights without due process. The decision comes after months of emergency filings, tenant displacement, and an unexplained pivot from stabilizing the building to liquidating it.

The Leland House, a 99-year-old historic building, has been embroiled in a contentious bankruptcy case. Despite the risks to its occupants, the owner had proposed selling the property at a rapid auction under federal bankruptcy law. The plan included approval of a $3.5 million stalking-horse bid and a $200,000 breakup fee if that bidder were outbid.

However, the U.S. Trustee objected to the stalking-horse fee, arguing that it is excessive and could chill bidding. Secured creditors also argued that the opening price was too low. Neighboring property owners expressed concerns about the debtor's authority to sell their non-estate property.

In contrast, tenants have been fighting to preserve their leases and prevent their belongings from being removed without their consent. Despite their efforts, residents were forced to evacuate the building after a power outage in December, with the city preventing them from picking up their remaining possessions.

The court's decision has given tenants breathing room, ensuring that any future sale of the Leland House cannot happen behind closed doors or at the expense of those who lived there. Tenant advocates hailed the ruling as an important pause, saying it would prevent the exploitation of vulnerable residents.

The halt in the auction also comes amid concerns about the ownership's intentions and potential conflicts of interest. The building's long-term fate remains uncertain, with some observers questioning whether the city has been adequate in advocating for its tenants' interests.

As the situation unfolds, one thing is clear: the Leland House case highlights the need for greater protections for low-income and marginalized communities facing eviction and displacement.

 

[European Kart E]

I'm super stoked they cancelled that auction , now we gotta figure out how to make sure those tenants actually get some help. Like, what's up with the city not being more involved in this from the start? They should've been pushing for a more equitable solution all along. The fact that people had to evacuate their homes because of a power outage is just outrageous . And don't even get me started on the stalking-horse fee – it's insane that they could try to sell the building without considering everyone else's interests first . I'm not saying the tenants are right or wrong, but we gotta think about how we can create a more balanced system for everyone involved .

 

[Tense Tur]

this whole thing just goes to show how power dynamics can play out in a split second. one minute you're stable, the next you're being pushed around by those with more clout. it's like, we gotta be careful not to let our own interests become the problem when they think we won't notice . anyway, what's really at stake here is the rights of the tenants - if we can't stand up for them now, who will?

 

[Lonely]

I'm glad to see a court intervene on behalf of the displaced tenants at the Leland House in Detroit . It's crazy that they were being forced out without even getting a chance to say goodbye or pick up their belongings . The fact that the owner was trying to sell the building so fast and for such a low price is just suspicious .

I'm also worried about the ownership's intentions and potential conflicts of interest . If the city isn't doing its job to advocate for the tenants' rights, then who will? It's time for some real change in how our housing policies work .

It's great that tenant advocates are pushing back against exploitation . We need more organizations and individuals speaking up for those who are being pushed around by powerful interests . The Leland House case is a wake-up call for all of us to take a closer look at how we're treating our most vulnerable citizens .

The fact that the court has halted the auction gives tenants some breathing room, but it's not a permanent solution . We need systemic changes to prevent situations like this from happening in the first place .

 

[Iron Sailboat 3D]

I'm so done with this whole thing , like, what's next? The city's gonna start selling off all our historical landmarks to the highest bidder just because some greedy landlord wants in on the cash? No thanks! I mean, I get it, the tenants were fighting for their rights and all that, but come on, can't we find a way to balance everyone's interests without having to shut down the auction? It's not like this is the first time this has happened or anything...

 

[Brain-Damaged]

Ugh I'm so glad that judge stopped this auction ! I mean, can you even imagine if they sold the Leland House without considering those tenants? That would've been super unfair to them . And yeah, the city did kinda drop the ball when it came to advocating for their rights. I feel like there's always a big imbalance between what the property owners want and what the people who live/used to live there need .

I know that sometimes stuff just happens in life but this is a pretty good example of how we should prioritize people over profits . The tenants are still gonna be in a tough spot, I don't think anyone can predict the future with certainty...

 

[Monster Driv]

I'm glad to see that a federal bankruptcy judge stepped in and blocked the auction of the Leland House! It's crazy how tenants were being pushed out without even getting to grab their stuff, you know? The fact that the owner was trying to sell it so fast just because they could make some cash is really shady. I mean, what about the people who call this place home? Don't they deserve some respect?

The judge's decision might seem like a small win, but trust me, it's a big deal! It shows that there are still people looking out for these vulnerable communities. And honestly, it's long overdue. We need more protections in place to prevent situations like this from happening again.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the city will do some real advocacy work to help the tenants and figure out what's going on with this building. It's not fair to just leave them hanging without a plan for the future. Fingers crossed they can get it together!

 

[Full Metal UFO Jihad]

I think it's super concerning that the owner would even consider selling a historic building like the Leland House at an auction without giving tenants their rights the respect they deserve. I mean, can you imagine if someone just came in and said, "Oh, you guys can just leave your homes and belongings behind"? It's not right, especially when it comes to low-income and marginalized communities who are already struggling to make ends meet.

The fact that tenants were forced to evacuate the building after a power outage, with the city preventing them from picking up their stuff, is just another example of how the system can be rigged against people in need. It's like they're saying, "Sorry, you can't live here anymore, but we'll let you pick up your belongings later... or maybe not."

Anyway, I'm glad that the court has stepped in to halt the auction and give tenants some breathing room. But it's also super worrying that the building's long-term fate is still uncertain, with some people questioning whether the city has been doing enough to advocate for their interests.

I think this whole situation highlights the need for stronger protections for people who are facing eviction and displacement. We need to make sure that everyone has access to safe housing and that their rights are respected, not just ignored or trampled on.

 

[Poised Po]

this decision by Judge Oxholm is like a huge sigh of relief for those folks living in that building . I mean, can you imagine just being told to leave your home without any warning or chance to say goodbye? it's crazy. And on top of all that, they were worried about losing their stuff too... it's just not right.

I'm all for the tenants having more time to figure out what's going on with the building and its future . Maybe there are some things that can be done to make sure this doesn't happen again? Like, maybe the city should have been doing more to help them out from the start .

But you know what? I think this is a good thing for everyone involved . It's like a big pause button was hit and now we can all take a step back and think about what's really going on here . And hey, at least the tenants have some breathing room to figure things out .

It's funny... people always talk about how bad the system is, but sometimes it's nice to see someone come through and give everyone a break . So, kudos to Judge Oxholm for doing what she thinks is right !

 

[Dangerou]

gotta be so relieved that the auction of the Leland House was halted! It's crazy how these people just wanted to sell out their tenants like they were nothing, no regard for anyone's rights or livelihoods... the power outage in December was super concerning, I mean who evacuates a building without letting people collect their stuff?

It's great that the court stepped in and protected those tenants, it's not right that they were being forced out like this. And can you imagine if they had sold the place to some corporation or owner who just wanted to flip it for profit? The thought alone is giving me the chills...

The fact that tenant advocates are hailing this as a 'pause' and not an end to the problem just shows how messed up our system is. It's like, we need real change, not just band-aids on existing problems. And those concerns about ownership's intentions? Yeah, let's get to the bottom of it!

 

[Easy Eland]

Ugh, can you believe this? Like, I remember when it was possible to just stay in a place without worrying about being evicted after some fancy lawyer says "bye bye" . Now it's like they're playing us all like pawns on the court of life . The Leland House case is literally just another example of how the system doesn't have our backs, especially when it comes to protecting people who can't even afford to fight back .

I mean, I'm not saying I'm a history buff or anything (although, I do love a good old-fashioned brick building like the Leland House ), but it's crazy how things used to be done differently. Like, remember when you could just live in a place for years and never have to worry about being kicked out? Those were the days, my friend .

Anyway, I guess this is just another reminder that we need more protections in place for people who are already struggling to make ends meet. It's not like we're asking for much – just a chance to live our lives without being constantly worried about losing our homes .

 

[Nasty Nig]

I'm glad to see this news . The fact that a federal bankruptcy judge stepped in to block the sale of the Leland House is a major win for tenants who have been fighting to preserve their rights. I mean, think about it - they were basically being told to vacate the premises without any regard for what was left behind. It's not just about some old building, it's about people's lives and livelihoods.

I'm also glad that there are concerns being raised about ownership's intentions and potential conflicts of interest. You can't just sell off a historic building like it's a commodity without considering the human impact. I'd love to see more transparency and accountability in this process.

But what really gets me is how often we hear about this stuff happening to low-income and marginalized communities. It's like, we're supposed to be living in a society where everyone has access to safe and affordable housing? The Leland House case just highlights the need for greater protections and support systems for these communities.

Sources are always welcome, by the way

 

[Testy Tern]

I'm glad to hear that the court stepped in to stop this auction . It's heartbreaking to think about people being forced out of their homes without having a say in what happens next . I mean, $3.5 million for the building is crazy talk . What about all those tenants who have been living there for years? Don't they deserve some protection?

And yeah, it's all super suspicious that the owner suddenly decided to sell instead of just keeping the building stable . I'm glad tenant advocates are speaking out for them and pushing for real change . It's not just about saving this one building, but about making sure we're protecting people from exploitation in general.

It's crazy how much power there is in these auctions . I mean, some people have to deal with so much stress and uncertainty on a daily basis, and then you throw in something like this and it can be devastating . The government should really do more to support low-income communities like this .

 

[Gentle Goose]

Ugh I'm literally shaking thinking about what happened to those ppl at Leland House it's so crazy that they had to evacuate without even being able to grab their own stuff! I mean I know the building's old and all but evicting them like that? it's just not right anyway the fact that Maria Oxholm halted the auction is def a win for those tenants and a major step towards making sure they don't get taken advantage of again

 

[Space Bus]

I'm glad to see a federal bankruptcy judge stepping in to protect the rights of those living at the historic Leland House . The owner's plan was super shady, trying to sell off the building without considering the tenants' well-being first. It's amazing that the court decided to halt the auction and give those folks some breathing room .

It's also interesting how the court decision came about - after months of tension and disputes among various stakeholders . The fact that tenants were being forced to evacuate their homes without access to their belongings is just not cool, especially when you consider that many might have been struggling with limited resources already .

Now, I'm all for businesses making a profit, but not at the expense of vulnerable communities. This case shows us that we need more protections in place to prevent exploitation and ensure that everyone's treated fairly .

 

[Misty Macaw]

I'm so relieved to hear that the auction of the historic Leland House has been halted! Those tenants had been fighting tooth and nail for their rights, and it's heartbreaking to think about what would've happened if they'd lost this battle . The fact that the court is giving them some breathing room is a huge win . It just goes to show that there are still good people in positions of power who care about doing what's right .

I mean, can you imagine how scared those tenants must've been when they were forced to evacuate their home? No one deserves to lose their place, especially not with no warning or support . It's so important that we're speaking out for them and demanding better treatment from our leaders .

And let's be real, this is just another example of how our system can fail those who need it most . But by highlighting cases like the Leland House, we can start to create change and push for greater protections for low-income communities . Fingers crossed that their voices are heard and their rights are respected .

 

[Topsy-Turvy Graveyard]

This is a huge win for the tenants of the Leland House! I'm so glad that Judge Oxholm stepped in to block the auction sale - it's not fair to just kick people out without giving them a chance to say goodbye . The fact that they had to evacuate their homes after a power outage is just heartbreaking, and it's crazy that some people thought they could just sell off the building without considering their stories or struggles .

I think this case really shows us that we need more protections for people who are already struggling - low-income families, seniors, folks with disabilities... these are the ones who need extra support to keep a roof over their heads . We should be celebrating that our courts can make decisions that prioritize fairness and compassion over greed .

 

[Cha]

this is a good start but i still think we're not doing enough to protect people like those living in the Leland House. i mean, they've already had to deal with power outages and being kicked out without their belongings... that's just not right .

also, what about the other tenants who didn't get a chance to say anything? shouldn't they have a voice too? it's easy for us to sit here and say "oh, good job, court" but what about all the people on the ground who are still living in uncertainty?

and yeah, let's be real, this is just a Band-Aid solution... we need systemic change to prevent situations like this from happening in the first place .

 

[Drab Dragonfly]

OMG, can you believe this? Like, who needs that kind of drama in their life, right? The Leland House auction saga has been a wild ride, but I guess it's good to know that the tenants are still standing strong (pun intended)! It's crazy how these people were forced to evacuate due to a power outage and now they're fighting for their rights. I'm like, totally on team tenant! You can't just sell someone's home without giving them a chance to say goodbye or grab their stuff... that's just basic human decency.

And don't even get me started on the ownership's intentions – it sounds like there were some sketchy dealings going on. I mean, who tries to sneak in a $3.5 million stalking-horse bid without making sure everyone knows about it? That's like trying to swipe something from your friend and then acting all innocent when they ask what's up... not cool.

Anyway, I'm glad the court stepped in to put a stop to this auction nonsense. It's not like we need more homeless people or anything (just kidding, kinda). Seriously though, it's about time someone stood up for these vulnerable residents. Now let's just hope that the building gets some much-needed TLC and doesn't end up as some soulless high-rise...

 

[Silly Sloth]

I was saying earlier that we need more transparency in these types of situations... like, what's really going on with this auction? And now, it seems like the court is stepping in to protect the tenants. About time! I mean, can you imagine if they had sold the place without even giving them a chance to appeal? It would be a total disaster. But seriously, this decision shows that there are still some good people working in those courts, making sure everyone's rights are being respected.