Detroit officials press for action on bedbugs, broken elevators at senior apartments

October 14, 2026

Detroit City Council is demanding action after reports emerged of severely poor living conditions at the Greenhouse Apartments, a subsidized senior housing facility on the city's west side. For approximately six months, residents have endured broken elevators and ongoing bedbug infestations, forcing some elderly tenants to crawl up and down stairs while dealing with pest problems. Council President Pro Tem Coleman A.

Who is affected

Residents of the Greenhouse Apartments (209 units, exact number of tenants unclear)
Seniors living in the subsidized housing facility
Eight units currently experiencing active bedbug infestations
Residents of 86 HUD properties serving seniors throughout Detroit (potentially affected by similar inspection issues)

What action is being taken

A contractor is repairing the passenger elevator and evaluating the freight elevator with safety checks
Pest control is conducting bedbug treatments every Monday
City inspectors are visiting and verifying conditions at the facility
Multiple city departments (BSEED, Department of Neighborhoods, and human services office) are being called to provide updates
The Law Department is exploring expedited legal action based on habitability issues

Why it matters

This situation represents a fundamental failure to provide safe, habitable living conditions for vulnerable senior citizens who depend on subsidized housing. The extended elevator outage creates dangerous conditions for elderly residents with mobility limitations, forcing some to crawl up stairs, while bedbug infestations pose serious health risks. The case highlights broader systemic issues with insufficient city inspection resources—only 42 residential inspectors oversee the entire city, including 86 HUD senior properties—and demonstrates the need for stronger enforcement mechanisms to hold negligent property managers accountable for maintaining basic living standards.

What's next

Both passenger and freight elevators were expected to be operational by the end of Tuesday (the day of the council meeting)
Graham Anderson from the Law Department will consult with the team specializing in habitability issues to explore potential expedited legal action
Young plans to prioritize funding for additional city inspectors in upcoming budgeting cycles
The city will explore technology options like drones or smart sensors to assist with inspections
Council is investigating the "most draconian" penalties available to apply against noncompliant landlords and managers

Read full article from source: bridgedetroit.com