Nyree Peters of Detroit, a resident of Wellington Commons, talks to the media about the illegal eviction of tenants from the west side apartment complex. The renters were told to leave within one day. (Photo: Abayomi Azikiwe)
Originally uploaded by Pan-African News Wire File Photos
Media Advisory
Event: Tenants' Press Conference at Wellington Commons
Location: 59 Seward, Near Woodward, 11:00am
Contact: Moratorium NOW! Coalition
Phone: 313.778.4393 or 313.671.3715
E-mail: ac6123@wayne.edu
URL: http://www.peoplessummit.org
Stop the Illegal Eviction of Tenants at the Wellington Commons; Demand an Investigation of the Slumlords Who Own the Apartment Building
Residents of the Wellington Commons apartments located at 59 Seward near Woodward avenue near the New Center area, were today illegally ordered out of their apartments within twenty-four hours by the owners. A note delivered to the tenants said that the 59 Seward LLC was going out of business and that the electric and gas services provided by DTE Energy would be shut-off the following day, July 10.
This comes as a shock to the residents of the ten story apartment building. Some residents have lived there for as long as forty-six years. No writ of eviction was served by 36th District Court and the tenants had no idea that such action would be taken.
The ordering of these tenants out of their apartments is taking place in light of the deplorable conditions prevailing at Wellington Commons. Nyree Peters, who spoke for the tenants, said that she had no place to go within the next day.
The owners have neglected the maintenance of the building for years. Residents complained of broken elevators, inadequate ventilation, black mole, mice, bedbugs, roaches, broken windows and plumbing.
A representative of the Moratorium NOW! Coalition to Stop Foreclosures and Evictions was taken on a tour of several apartments in the building. Keith Major, who said that he had lived in the building for six months, occupied a one bedroom apartment where the faucets did not work, the kitchen sink was backed-up and the floors were covered with ants and roaches.
Angela Chadwick, who lives on the fourth floor, said that her two children were placed in protective services after a social worker paid a visit to the apartment. "I was told that this place was not fit for a cat, let alone children," Chadwick said.
Residents reported that the elevator had been out for months and that people were forced to climb the stairs. An elderly man died recently after becoming overwhelmed by the walking up the flights of stairs.
On Friday morning, July 10 at 11:00 a.m., tenants at the Wellington Commons will hold a press conference to demand justice. They want the illegal evictions stopped, repairs done on the apartment building or assistance in re-locating to a decent housing complex.
The note delivered to the residents from the owners said that they could move to an apartment building on Chalmers Street located on the far east side of the city. When residents called the number to inquire about availability at the Chalmers apartment, they were told that a deposit between $300-700 was required to move in. Tenants said they had just paid rent on the first of the month.
With the deepening economic crisis more residents in Detroit and the region are facing foreclosure and eviction. This is why there needs to be an economic state of emergency declared in Michigan by Gov. Granholm. Such a declaration of a state of economic emergency would create the conditions for a moratorium on foreclosures and evictions, utility shut-off and job losses.
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