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Lansing residents plead for time as council reviews make‑safe or demolish show‑cause cases
Summary
Clerk and council reviewed seven make‑safe or demolish show‑cause cases and referred them to the Public Safety Committee. Residents asked for time to repair or sell homes; officials said committee review is set for July and final council action will follow.
The Lansing City Council opened a series of show‑cause hearings June 22 covering seven properties that city staff say have failed to comply with previous make‑safe or demolish orders. The clerk and Councilmember Hussein gave an overview of the cases, providing property valuations and estimated repair costs before the items were referred to the Committee on Public Safety.
Properties discussed included 1218 Gordon Ave. (taxpayers Marsha Quimby and Michael M. Massey; SEV $75,000; estimated repairs $190,189.16), 813 Bement St. (Scott Kelly and Rich Kelly; SEV $24,700; estimated repairs $60,303.88), 708 S. Hayford (Teresa Pruitt Dukes; SEV $23,700; estimated repairs $51,026.436), 6031 S. MLK Blvd. (Kingdom Life Church; commercial SEV $443,000; estimated repairs $4,983,401), 2114 E. Kalamazoo St. (Benjamin M. Riddle; SEV $22,300; estimated repairs $105,067.91), 4507 Devonshire (Crystal Collins; SEV $75,000; estimated repairs $138,235), and 100 W. Hodge Ave. (Christian Nwobu; SEV $81,500; estimated repairs $158,413).
Several residents asked the council for additional time or alternatives to demolition. Crystal Collins, whose property at 4507 Devonshire is in the show‑cause list, said she moved into the home in December 2024, did not receive prior notices at a changed address, and requested months to clear and repair the house. City staff told Collins the typical order provides a 60‑day make‑safe period and that the matter will return to committee for further consideration.
Marsha Quimby said she has a buyer willing to purchase 1218 Gordon “as is” and asked the council to delay demolition so the home can be repaired and returned to the market. City staff clarified a Public Safety Committee meeting will be held July 8 at 11:00 a.m. for further dialogue; a final council vote on the make‑safe or demolish orders is scheduled for July 13 at 7:00 p.m.
Why it matters: the property actions remove severely deteriorated structures from the housing stock if rehabilitation is impossible; neighbors and prospective buyers said forced demolition can reduce available housing while residents asked for opportunities to sell or rehabilitate properties.
Next steps: the show‑cause items were referred to the Committee on Public Safety for July 8 committee consideration, with final council action expected July 13.
