Detroit law department outlines plan to retrieve Leland House tenants' belongings; mediation set for March 18

Corporation Counsel Conrad Mallett told the Detroit City Council on March 10 that the law department has negotiated an approach to allow Leland House tenants access to their units to collect personal property and to move remaining items into storage.

Mallett said the administration has offered tenants a full day, with up to two people allowed to enter each apartment to pack personal belongings; a professional moving company would pack what remains and the city would transport and store those items. "We are prepared to offer the tenants an entire day to go into the apartments to pack their personal belongings themselves," Mallett said, adding that the moving company would then collect and store the remaining property.

He told council the city and tenants’ attorneys have scheduled mediation with Judge Popkey for March 18 and the city will appear in bankruptcy court on March 12 to press for its position in the debtor’s case. Mallett said the city believes the costs it has…