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Public commenters press city on unsafe housing, Renaissance Center and water affordability at committee meeting
Summary
Public commenters at the Detroit Public Health & Safety Committee meeting raised complaints about building conditions and threats to residents at 375 West Grand Boulevard, urged historic designation of the Renaissance Center, called for water affordability protections and promoted upcoming community events and hearings.
Public comment at the March 10 Public Health & Safety Committee meeting touched on housing conditions, preservation of the Renaissance Center, water affordability and community events, with residents and advocacy groups urging the committee and city departments to act.
Adrian Tynes said he lives at 375 West Grand Boulevard, Apartment 102, and described long-running pest infestations, mold and threats he said came after he complained. "People are continuously getting sick, some dying off who have spoken out about him," Tynes said. He said he received a letter threatening an exterminator and that his housing support funding might be stopped after he spoke to a television station. Tynes said Southwest Solutions and the building owner had not adequately addressed conditions.
Several callers urged the committee to save the Renaissance Center from demolition or from development plans they oppose. Tahira Ahmad and Carolyn Hughes argued for historic designation and accused the council of eroding residents’ ability to determine the building’s future; Council Member Mary Waters responded on the record that the Renaissance Center is not being torn down and that General Motors currently owns the properties in question.
Jahad Najee, representing Grand Detroit Mall (the Mammoth Building new owners), asked the committee not to approve a demolition contract for 15401 West Grand River and said the owners have invested more than $750,000 and currently have a court stay pending reconsideration.
Other public comments covered transit advocacy and outreach (Brother Cunningham described DDOT-branded hand warmers and plans to lobby Lansing for more funding), the need for expanded health-department services and inspections (William M. Davis), notices about community meetings (Betty A. Varner announced a Board of Police Commissioners meeting and a Fenkell Avenue Corridor community meeting), and a planned rally to oppose changes to the Renaissance Center (Kamiko Williams announced a May 3 rally).
Cecily McClellan urged the council to codify water affordability into law and reminded the committee of a Medicaid town hall scheduled for March 11 at the WCCC downtown campus. Several callers urged that retaliation against residents who speak out be stopped and asked the council to increase transparency around demolition and reuse practices.
The committee chair noted times and public-comment rules: in this committee, speakers have two minutes and were asked to raise hands by 10:05 for the online queue.
Public comment will be available again at the ordinance public hearings and at the committee’s next meeting; multiple items raised during public comment were on the committee’s agenda, including the Mammoth Building demolition item and DWSD-related ordinances.
