Fundraiser Planned for Displaced Leland House Residents Amid Uncertainty Over Building's Future
A community fundraiser is set to take place this Friday at the Lager House in Detroit, with organizers collecting donations to support displaced residents of the historic Leland House. The event aims to raise money for 27 tenants who were forced out of their homes due to a major electrical failure last month.
The fundraiser comes as the building's future remains uncertain, with reports suggesting that the owner is planning to sell the property through an online auction. The process would involve a designated "stalking horse" bidder setting a floor price, with provisions for fees and expense reimbursements outlined in court filings if that bidder is ultimately outbid.
The evacuation of the 20-story Leland House was ordered by the city's fire marshal following a malfunction that left heat, lights, and elevators out. Tenants say they need money for basic necessities like travel, groceries, and clothes, but limited access to amenities has made daily life difficult.
"It's expensive out here," said Daryl Stewart, a 67-year-old artist who has lived at the Leland since 2012. "Some things are walkable, but not everyone can walk like that. It's like being in another world out here."
Stewart and other residents have expressed emotional distress over the displacement, with many describing it as traumatic. The fundraiser aims to provide a sense of solidarity and support for those affected.
The event will feature entertainment provided by a lineup of DJs, with donations collected at the door and split evenly among the 27 displaced residents. A suggested donation is $10 to $20, although organizers encourage attendees to give what they can.
While some have questioned whether funds raised through online campaigns were used to pay DTE Energy bills, the fundraiser at the Lager House is a separate effort focused directly on supporting displaced residents.
A community fundraiser is set to take place this Friday at the Lager House in Detroit, with organizers collecting donations to support displaced residents of the historic Leland House. The event aims to raise money for 27 tenants who were forced out of their homes due to a major electrical failure last month.
The fundraiser comes as the building's future remains uncertain, with reports suggesting that the owner is planning to sell the property through an online auction. The process would involve a designated "stalking horse" bidder setting a floor price, with provisions for fees and expense reimbursements outlined in court filings if that bidder is ultimately outbid.
The evacuation of the 20-story Leland House was ordered by the city's fire marshal following a malfunction that left heat, lights, and elevators out. Tenants say they need money for basic necessities like travel, groceries, and clothes, but limited access to amenities has made daily life difficult.
"It's expensive out here," said Daryl Stewart, a 67-year-old artist who has lived at the Leland since 2012. "Some things are walkable, but not everyone can walk like that. It's like being in another world out here."
Stewart and other residents have expressed emotional distress over the displacement, with many describing it as traumatic. The fundraiser aims to provide a sense of solidarity and support for those affected.
The event will feature entertainment provided by a lineup of DJs, with donations collected at the door and split evenly among the 27 displaced residents. A suggested donation is $10 to $20, although organizers encourage attendees to give what they can.
While some have questioned whether funds raised through online campaigns were used to pay DTE Energy bills, the fundraiser at the Lager House is a separate effort focused directly on supporting displaced residents.
this is so messed up my heart goes out to these ppl who got kicked outta their homes cuz of a electrical failure i mean cant they just fix the issue instead of sellin the building like its nothin? these 27 ppl are goin thru so much right now, from findin new place to deal with stress & anxiety... $10-20 is a small price to pay for some dignity & support 
I feel so bad for those 27 people who lost their homes because of that electrical failure. It's crazy how one malfunction can cause such chaos and displacement. They deserve our support 
, not just financial help but also emotional support. It's like they're living in a different world right now, and it's heartbreaking to see.
.
.
. I mean, 27 people losing their homes due to an electrical failure is just crazy 
. The fact that they have to deal with basic things like groceries and clothes being expensive makes me want to do something for them 
.
. The DJ lineup sounds like a lot of fun though 
! Maybe we can all chip in and help out those who need it most 
i mean, i feel bad for these ppl but it's just another example of how messed up things are in this city. a $10-$20 donation might seem like nothing to some people, but 27 ppl need that kinda cash to get back on their feet... it's not just about throwing money at the problem tho, we need real solutions, not just Band-Aid charity events 
but I gotta wonder how much of our donations are gonna end up going straight to them and not towards some other expenses or fees... it's great that the community is coming together, but we should make sure we're being transparent about where our cash is going 
. Can't wait to see if this fundraiser will make a real difference!
i just hope this fundraiser at the lager house helps them out and shows some solidarity 
27 ppl don't deserve to be in this situation, especially those who've been living there for years 
... the fact that they need a fundraiser just because their building is 'up for sale' is wild to me... like, isn't that just another way of saying we value our homes so little? 
... anyway, i guess what i'm getting at is we gotta start valuing our communities and people more than just making a quick buck 
. It's crazy to me how some places are willing to sell off homes without even considering the ppl who'll have to move on 
, so here's to that!
. I mean, what's next? They're gonna start selling off our homes too? 
. I'm not saying the owners are bad people, but there's definitely some shady stuff goin' on here 
. And what about all those court filings? That sounds like a whole lotta red tape... just to keep these people down 
.
. And the owner's planning to sell the place through an auction? Talk about heartless 
? 
. The entertainment at this fundraiser might be cool, but it's not gonna help with groceries or rent 
. And let's be real, $10 to $20 is barely enough for most people. It's like, come on, folks! Can't we do better than this? 
.
. I mean, 27 people having to leave their homes due to an electrical failure... it's just not fair 
. The fact that they need money for basic things like travel and groceries makes sense, but the limited access to amenities has to be a huge stress factor 
! What's really concerning is that the building's future is still up in the air - hopefully, something can be done to find a solution that works for everyone 
.
. The owner selling the building through an online auction seems like a huge problem - what about the people who can't just afford a new home? 
$10-$20 donation at the event sounds reasonable, but honestly, it's hard to say whether that'll be enough considering the basic necessities they're struggling with.
meanwhile, the building's owner is planning to sell it through an online auction which sounds like a real kick in the teeth for those already struggling 
. 27 tenants are struggling with basic needs like food and clothes, and the fact that they need to raise money themselves is just heartbreaking 
. 
.
. The displacement of Leland House residents is a classic example of the 'eviction paradox' where well-intentioned efforts to modernize and maintain historical buildings often come at the cost of long-term residents 
. The fact that the building's owner is planning to sell the property through an online auction raises questions about the true value placed on community and affordability