Detroit demolition contractor Gayanga shutting down, suing city

May 8, 2026

Gayanga Co. , a Detroit-based demolition contractor owned by Brian McKinney, announced it is permanently closing and filing a defamation lawsuit against the city's Office of Inspector General after being accused of using contaminated soil at demolition sites. The company was temporarily suspended last September when investigators alleged it used toxic backfill dirt, affecting hundreds of properties across Detroit, though the suspension was lifted in March due to time limits.

Who is affected

Detroit residents living near the 533+ properties with suspected contamination
Brian McKinney, founder of Gayanga Co.
Gayanga Co. employees and workers
Black contractors who worked with or were advocated for by Gayanga
Mayor Mary Sheffield (formerly City Council President)
McKinney's ex-wife and family
Detroit Office of Inspector General and Kamau Marable (named in lawsuit)
Iron Horse of Michigan (Oakland County dirt supplier)
Detroit taxpayers responsible for cleanup costs
Private property owners at 100+ additional suspected contamination sites

What action is being taken

Gayanga Co. is shutting down operations
Brian McKinney and Gayanga Co. are filing a defamation lawsuit against the Detroit OIG Office and Kamau Marable
The FBI is conducting an investigation
Detroit officials are considering spending $4.5 million on hiring Mannik & Smith Group as an environmental consultant to test demolition sites
The city is seeking permission from private property owners to test their sites
City Attorney Graham Anderson is looking to recover costs and damages
City Council members are requesting detailed information from the Construction and Demolition Department director

Why it matters

This situation represents a significant breakdown in government oversight and public trust, with potentially widespread environmental contamination affecting Detroit neighborhoods due to inadequate supervision of a contractor who received over $59 million in city contracts. The ethical concerns involving conflict of interest—with a City Council president voting on contracts for a company owned by her romantic partner—compound the problem and exemplify governance failures. The case has major financial implications for Detroit taxpayers, who may bear an $8 million or higher cleanup cost while the city attempts to recover funds through legal action. Beyond the immediate environmental and fiscal concerns, this incident undermines confidence in municipal contracting processes and raises serious questions about whether adequate protections exist to prevent similar situations from occurring with ongoing city projects.

What's next

City Council members expect responses to nearly a dozen questions about flagged properties, testing timelines, dirt replacement plans, safety measures, and inspection frequency by the end of the week or early next week
The city will consider whether to approve the $4.5 million contract with Mannik & Smith Group for environmental testing
City Council will have a full table discussion about the environmental consultant contract
The city plans to pursue legal action to recover cleanup costs and total damages through the courts
The defamation lawsuit filed by McKinney and Gayanga Co. against the OIG and Kamau Marable will proceed through the court system

Read full article from source: bridgedetroit.com