Seniors Spend Week in Limbo as Leland House Fights to Stay Open

December 5, 2025

A historic 22-story Detroit apartment building faced an imminent power shutoff after its owners failed to pay over $50,000 owed to DTE Energy as part of a Chapter 11 bankruptcy case. Management initially instructed residents to vacate by December 3rd, prompting many tenants to begin moving out, but a bankruptcy judge subsequently granted owners until Thursday to pay the debt through a $1. 2 million high-interest loan tied to the building's eventual sale.

Who is affected

Residents of Leland House (primarily Black seniors)
Leland City Club (underground electronic music venue)
DTE Energy (utility company owed over $50,000)
Building owners/management represented by Luis Ramirez
Alternative/goth crowd who attend Leland City Club events
City of Detroit

What action is being taken

Residents are moving out of the building with U-Haul trucks
DTE is working with the city of Detroit to secure alternative housing for affected residents
A GoFundMe campaign is raising money to save the Leland City Club (over $34,000 raised as of publication)
U.S. bankruptcy Judge Maria Oxholm approved an order giving owners until Thursday to pay through a $1.2 million loan

Why it matters

This case highlights the vulnerability of low-income senior residents during bankruptcy proceedings and utility disputes, demonstrating how financial instability can displace entire communities even when legal remedies are available. The situation affects not only residential tenants but also cultural spaces like the Leland City Club, threatening the loss of both affordable housing and community gathering places in downtown Detroit. Additionally, it involves a historically significant building from the 1920s, raising concerns about preservation of Detroit's architectural heritage.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: Michigan Chronicle