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Hazel Park orders demolition of derelict building at 444 W. 8 Mile after hearing buyer's rehabilitation offer
Summary
After months of neighborhood complaints and an inspector's report finding extensive decay, Hazel Park council ordered demolition of 444 W. 8 Mile within 30 days; a prospective buyer said he would rehabilitate the building and offered a bond, and staff noted an appeal window.
Hazel Park ' The Hazel Park City Council voted to order demolition of a derelict commercial building at 444 West 8 Mile after a show-cause hearing that lasted through public comment.
At the hearing, prospective buyer Mike Shaba told the council he had a purchase agreement and said he intended "to own it for myself to use it... office and storage" and would post a bond to demonstrate seriousness. Listing agent Larry Balone said an engineer's inspection could make rehabilitation feasible but acknowledged the owners had managed the property remotely and the building had been a long-standing neighborhood problem.
City staff and the building inspector described long-running code issues, repeated complaints and safety hazards. The hearing officer and staff summarized findings of extreme decay and defective systems; the council's formal motion ordered the structure "to be demolished within 30 days." Council members said the neighborhood had endured years of blight and code-enforcement burdens and expressed support for a demolition order while recognizing the buyer's offer to rehabilitate.
The council recorded that interested parties have an appeal path and the administrative timelines associated with show-cause proceedings; city staff noted the statutory 21-day window to seek review in circuit court if the owner objects to the demolition order.
Next steps: The demolition order takes effect per the council motion; the city will follow statutory notice and appeal procedures and can accept any timely legal challenge or remediation proposal filed in the court review period.
