Leland House Tenants Push Detroit City Council for Action

Attorneys file new paperwork asking city to approve tenant asset removal procedures nearly 3 months after evacuation.

Mar. 3, 2026 at 10:19pm

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Leland House tenants in Detroit are frustrated and angry, pushing the city council to take action after being evacuated from their homes nearly three months ago. Ownership attorneys have filed new paperwork asking the city to approve tenant asset removal procedures, which determine how and when residents can retrieve their belongings. Attorneys for the displaced tenants call this an eleventh-hour filing and another example of delay tactics. With no set timeline on when residents will regain access, some city council members are demanding accountability for the prolonged process.

Why it matters

The Leland House evacuation has left hundreds of low-income residents displaced, struggling physically and mentally. The slow pace of resolving the situation and allowing tenants to retrieve their belongings has raised concerns about the city's responsiveness to a housing crisis impacting a vulnerable population.

The details

Late Monday, Leland House ownership attorneys filed new paperwork asking the city to approve tenant asset removal procedures. Attorneys for the displaced tenants call this an eleventh-hour filing and another example of delay tactics to keep people out of their homes. With no set timeline on when residents will get access, some city council members are pushing for accountability, questioning why the process has taken so long.

  • Leland House tenants were evacuated nearly 3 months ago.
  • A hearing to determine the removal proceedings is set for March 12.

The players

Steven Remmer

A displaced Leland House tenant who says the situation is affecting residents physically and mentally.

Daryl Stewart

A displaced Leland House tenant who says he was forced to abandon everything.

Donovan McCarty

An attorney for the displaced Leland House tenants who says the ownership is obstructing and not communicating.

Gabriela Santiago-Romero

A Detroit City Councilwoman questioning why the process has taken so long.

Renata Miller

A Detroit City Councilwoman saying it's not right for the residents, as the building had over 300 people and is now down to 38.

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What they’re saying

“This is not confusion. This is not miscommunication. This is failure. This is affecting these residents, physically, mentally. They are struggling right now.”

— Steven Remmer, Displaced Leland House tenant

“It's kind of like you abandoned everything. You were forced to abandon.”

— Daryl Stewart, Displaced Leland House tenant

“There's no reason they cannot get back in this building to retrieve their belongings, other than obstruction. They also are not cooperating with us. They have not been communicating.”

— Donovan McCarty, Attorney for displaced Leland House tenants

“Why did it take this long? Could this have not happened any sooner because we asked this to happen sooner? Does it really take this amount of process and these court filings for us to get to this point?”

— Gabriela Santiago-Romero, Detroit City Councilwoman

“It's not right for our residents. This building had over 300 people. Now we're down to a 38 or something like that, because of the ones that could afford to leave, left.”

— Renata Miller, Detroit City Councilwoman

What’s next

A hearing to determine the tenant asset removal proceedings is set for March 12.

The takeaway

The prolonged Leland House evacuation and lack of access for tenants to retrieve their belongings has highlighted the city's responsiveness to a housing crisis impacting a vulnerable population. The situation has raised concerns about accountability and the need for swifter action to address the needs of displaced residents.