Milan council authorizes circuit court litigation over code violations at Milan Pines apartments

The Milan City Council voted unanimously on Jan. 7 to authorize circuit court litigation aimed at abating property‑maintenance code violations at the Milan Pines Apartments, a two‑property complex at 454 and 481 Greentree Lane.

The council adopted Resolution 2025‑01 after a motion by Councilmember Snyder, seconded by Mayor Pro‑Tem Wayne. The resolution states the city adopted a rental housing certification ordinance in 2022 and began systematic property‑maintenance enforcement in 2023, and that the Milan Pines owner — identified in the resolution as Nam Investments LLC and Anthony Nam of Ann Arbor — has not complied with registration and repair requirements. The resolution says the site contains approximately 78 individual apartment units.

According to the written resolution, city inspectors completed initial inspections on Dec. 14, 2023 and re‑inspections on May 15 and May 22, 2024, finding “hundreds of property maintenance code violations,” many described as potential life‑safety issues. The document also states the city discovered numerous fuel‑fired appliances, including water heaters and furnaces, that were installed without building permits or inspection and that some appliances are believed to be potentially dangerous to occupants. The resolution recounts prior district court action on July 24, 2023 to compel registration and concludes the city has “no reasonable expectation” of resolving the violations through further district court proceedings alone.

The resolution authorizes staff and legal counsel to pursue appropriate legal action in Washtenaw County Circuit Court to abate the violations and explicitly encourages seeking appointment of a receiver to bring the properties into compliance.

City officials recorded the motion as passing unanimously. Present at the meeting and recorded as voting in favor were Mayor Ed Kolar; Mayor Pro‑Tem Wayne; and Councilmembers Kerkes, Kofflin, Snyder and Stafford. Councilmember Thompson was excused.

The resolution lists the properties and the owner by name; it does not specify a timeline for filing suit or the amount of potential court costs the city expects to seek. The motion as recorded does not include direct remarks from tenants or the property owner during the meeting. The resolution notes the city has continued to receive tenant complaints about unsanitary and unsafe living conditions.

Next steps identified in the resolution include initiating Circuit Court proceedings in Washtenaw County and, if appropriate, seeking appointment of a receiver to address outstanding maintenance and safety issues. The council did not provide additional detail at the meeting about timing for filing or planned remedies beyond the authorization to pursue court action.