Imagine being without power and heat in the dead of winter – a harsh reality faced by residents of the Leland House apartments in downtown Detroit. This is a story of overdue bills, failing equipment, and the human cost of these issues. Let's dive in.
On the evening of December 11, 2025, the Leland House remained in the dark. The initial threat of a power shutoff due to unpaid electric bills had become a reality. DTE Energy, the utility company, cited a failure in "customer-owned" equipment as the cause, not the unpaid bills directly.
The building's management was given a deadline to pay a deposit for the outstanding electric bills. But here's where it gets controversial... even after the deposit was paid, the power remained off. The outage, according to DTE spokesperson Dana St. Coeur, was due to equipment issues that were inaccessible because of structural hazards inside the building.
"We feel for the residents," St. Coeur stated, acknowledging the difficult situation. Approximately 40 tenants call the Leland House home. DTE was working with the city to provide temporary housing, even helping to cover hotel costs while repairs were made. The city, however, hadn't yet disclosed where the displaced residents had been relocated.
DTE was ready to restore service as soon as the building owner made the necessary repairs and ensured a safe environment. Last week, DTE had warned of a power shutoff due to the unpaid bills, prompting the building's operator to tell residents to move out by December 3rd.
Adding another layer to this complex situation, Judge Maria Oxholm of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern Division ordered Leland's management to pay a $57,000 deposit on the overdue bill by a specific Monday. Ryan Heilman, the attorney for the Leland House Limited Partnership, confirmed in a bankruptcy hearing that the deposit had been paid.
While DTE didn't confirm receiving the deposit, St. Coeur stated that power would be restored if it weren't for the equipment issues. DTE was ready to work with the building owners once repairs were complete.
The Leland House, a historic 22-story building constructed in 1927, is on the National Register of Historic Places. It has a history of code violations, with the city previously describing it as "unfit for human habitation" in a 2022 lawsuit. The inspection revealed issues like standing water, unreliable heating, missing smoke detectors, and a single functional elevator. The building's management had agreed to bring the building up to code as a result of the lawsuit. The Leland House Limited Partnership has managed the building since 2023, following the death of its former owner, Mike Higgins.
What do you think about this situation? Do you believe the city and DTE are doing enough? Share your thoughts in the comments – let's discuss!
