Romulus council reviews demolition list for 12 properties; several owners ask for 90-day delays

The City of Romulus City Council on Tuesday held a special public hearing to consider objections to Demolition List 24-01, a staff list of 12 properties the city says have been under long-term code enforcement and may require demolition or remediation.

Building director Jeff Kemp described the condition and enforcement history for each property and answered questions from council members. Kemp told the council the list includes a range of cases: recent fire-damaged homes, long-vacant structures and commercially used parcels that have lost nonconforming status. "This year we have 12 properties on our demo list," Kemp said, and he walked council through individual cases and next steps.

Why it matters: the properties are located in residential neighborhoods and have generated repeated complaints from neighbors and multiple years of code enforcement activity. Council members said they want staff to pursue rehabilitation where feasible but to move forward with demolition when structures are unsafe or owners do not act.

Key details and requests

- 34139 Beverly Road: Kemp said the house suffered a November 2023 fire and has been vacant since. The city is holding an insurance withholding of $15,009. Kemp said the owner, identified in file notes as Mr. Beemham, told staff he intends to demolish the house and was given 90 days to secure permits; staff will continue monitoring the permitting process.

- 35930 Beverly: Vacant for about 10 years and under enforcement since 2016. The owner told the Construction Board of Appeals they plan to rehabilitate and were given 90 days to obtain permits or secure a demolition permit.

- 35875 Vivins: Under enforcement since 2015. Kemp said a contractor began interior work previously without pulling permits; a staff walk-through was scheduled for March 14 to assess progress.

- 6965 Burgedale: Vacant for nine years, owner attended the appeals hearing and said he intends to sell to someone who will demolish; staff has not seen action yet.

- 6355 Cordell: Enforcement since 2020; city inspectors reported severe interior deterioration and said demolition is likely.

- 35523 Goddard (Warner): Enforcement since 2017. Kemp said the owner now wants to demolish; the owner must obtain water and sewer disconnects and pay associated fees. Kemp reported the city holds a bond of $62.50 on the property to cover certain fees.

- 11201 Middlebelt ("pallet farm"): Longstanding enforcement dating back to 2007; Kemp said the parcel has lost its nonconforming M-2 status. Attorney Steve Robinson submitted an email asking the council to adjourn consideration because of ongoing litigation involving the estate of Lucille Drysdale and subsequent title disputes. Robinson's email (read into the record) said an estate matter and a judgment quieting title had been litigated and that the estate had filed a motion to set aside the earlier judgment; the email asked the council to delay action so the parties can resolve outstanding ownership issues. A second attorney, Ronald Haystead, who said he represents Ghanam (transcribed also as "Ghanem") Investments, LLC (a mortgagee), sent a separate email agreeing that an adjournment was appropriate and asked the city to stay informed as litigation proceeds. Council members said they would defer to the court process and that staff will coordinate with the city attorney.

- 29805 & 29815 Van Born: Two structures on the same parcel previously on the demo list. Kemp said the interior conditions were worse than anticipated, the owners engaged with staff last year and then communication went cold; the properties remain in poor condition and cannot be used as residences under current zoning (loss of nonconforming status).

- 35854 Vinewood: Vacant and in enforcement since 2009; the water has been off since 2013 and the property is unmaintained.

- 6577 Washington: In enforcement since 2014 with multiple neighbor complaints and water off since 2018. A woman identifying herself as her mother's power of attorney spoke at the hearing and said she and her daughter have been working to clear debris and begin repairs. "I didn't know things was this bad," the resident said, adding they were already demoing interior material and want to restore the house so the mother can move in. Kemp offered to provide contact information and follow up with a site visit and resources.

- 11114 Whitehorn: The owner lives in Georgia; Oscar Roten Jr. of Metro Realty emailed the city asking for a 90-day delay to allow prospective developers to inspect and determine whether to buy and rehabilitate the parcel. "A 90 day delay should give us sufficient time," the email read.

Council discussion and next steps

Council members repeatedly said they prefer rehabilitation where feasible but noted many of the properties have been idle for years and, in some cases, have structural failure or public-safety concerns. Several council members urged staff to arrange neutral building-department inspections so owners and contractors understand likely repair costs before deciding whether to repair or demolish. Kemp outlined the city's demolition process after approval: title searches, utility disconnects, environmental testing, public bidding for contractors and, finally, a return to council to award demolition contracts. He cautioned that these steps generate costs that may be charged to property owners.

No demolition motions were approved at the hearing. Rather, council heard objections, received attorney emails requesting delays for the Middlebelt parcel, received requests for 90-day delays from representatives on other properties, and instructed staff to continue inspections and return with more information at the next council meeting. Kemp said he will follow up with attorneys and provide updated reports, and council indicated they would respect pending court processes where ownership is disputed.

Votes at the hearing

The meeting record shows two procedural council votes unrelated to approving demolitions: a motion to accept the public hearing agenda and a motion to adjourn the meeting. Neither vote approved demolition of any property today.

Closing

Kemp told council the items on Demolition List 24-01 will return for further council action after staff completes title searches, disconnects and environmental reviews and solicits bids for any required work. Council members asked staff to prioritize communication with property owners, attorneys and nearby residents so that rehabilitation options are explored where feasible and the public-safety timeline is clear.