At a June 10 special meeting of the Eastpointe Planning Commission, consultants and commissioners focused substantial discussion on housing, land use and code enforcement, highlighting an aging housing stock, rising rents and concerns about investor-owned rentals and vacant properties.

TPMA cited that more than three-quarters of Eastpointe homes were built before 1960 and said gross rent had increased about 30% over a roughly 13-year period; the firm presented a 2023 median gross rent of about $1,335 and a 2023 median renter household income of $43,520. TPMA said home values and rents have risen recently but emphasized data vintages vary and that qualitative neighborhood-level engagement is needed to add context.

City staff member John Myers provided working estimates to the commission: if the vacancy rate cited (about 5%) is accurate, it represents roughly 735 vacant homes within the city’s residential stock of just over 14,000 units. Myers and commissioners described investor purchases of older homes, conversion to rentals and repeated turnover in some units; commissioners said some houses are occupied beyond lawful capacities and cited concerns about overcrowding and substandard rental conditions.

Commissioners and staff asked for ordinance changes and stronger enforcement tools. A commissioner said the building department is increasing ticketing of one problem property (Auto Clinic) and plans stepped-up enforcement; staff said they are working to obtain access to owner identification data needed to pursue certain code violations and to pursue next steps with the city attorney.

TPMA and staff emphasized the master-plan process will include a deeper housing analysis—examining affordability, the housing ecosystem, owner-occupancy figures and vacancy patterns—and will pair those data with targeted outreach. No policy changes were adopted at the meeting; commissioners requested that TPMA and staff identify immediate ordinance changes that would help the city address substandard rental properties and vacant lots.

Commissioners and residents also urged outreach that reaches people beyond social media, including canvassing, neighborhood-watch groups, water-bill mailings and on-site events.