Detroit, MI
City of Detroit sues historic Michigan Theatre building owner for blight violations
DETROIT (WXYZ) — The owner of the historic Michigan Theatre, the same building where Eminem’s hit movie “8 Mile” was filmed, is facing a lawsuit from the city of Detroit.
In the lawsuit, the city says the building, located at 220 Bagley Street, is falling apart with multiple blight violation including one that they say is a public safety issue.
“I’ve seen rocks fall off this building,“ said Tony Gardner, who lives in the area. “And the way it hits the ground, it could really hurt somebody or kill somebody, technically.”
Falling debris is just one of the many blight violations the city of Detroit cited in the lawsuit that was filed back in May.
According to the lawsuit, multiple emergency orders were issued before due to the public complaining about rocks falling off the building.
The city’s attorney, Conrad Mallet, says the era of lawlessness in the city of Detroit has come to an end.
“The Michigan Theatre building — 220 Bagley — has 58 blight violations,” he said. “Five of them for unsafe conditions — two that in fact say that we are imminent danger and the danger is sufficient enough that we want the building completely shut down to all public access.”
The building is historic for many reasons. Part of the building used to be a theater before it was converted into a parking garage, where events and films have been made like the movie “8 Mile.”
Today, the building is occupied on the sixth floor by a business and it is still open for events.
Businessman Dennis Keffalinos is the current owner of the space. The city says Keffalinos has a history of blight violations for the many properties that he owns.
“There is not a Dennis Keffalinos redevelopment project that I can point you too,” Mallet said.
But according to a spokesperson for Keffalinos, the city has it wrong.
“The truth for a lot of the buildings that he (Keffalinos) owns in the city, they were purchased in a neglected state,” Niko Matasmakis said. “And he’s just been putting money into them trying to restore power to these buildings, trying to restore structural integrity to the buildings and really just trying to maintain and preserve historic architecture in the city of Detroit.”
Matasmakis says Keffalios does not deny the public safety issues with the falling debris and they are fixing it but there is nothing else wrong with the building.
Officials say they still think the building is not in compliance with the city’s ordinance.
“As long as we have available resources, we are going to in fact do everything we can to enforce our ordinances,” Mallet said.
Veteran defensive tackle Calais Campbell could be suiting up for the Miami Dolphins for the final time Sunday against the Cleveland Browns.
According to the Miami Herald, there is a growing expectation Campbell will be waived when the Dolphins are officially eliminated from postseason contention.
The Detroit Lions’ defense could benefit from the addition of another experienced veteran along the defensive line, as they continue their pursuit of their first-ever Super Bowl appearance and win.
As writer Omar Kelly explained, “Campbell and the Dolphins have discussed his release, which would need to happen before next week’s season finale, giving him an opportunity to latch on to a team competing for the Super Bowl. The Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings are also expected to be interested, and might put in a waiver claim to strengthen their cause, and prevent a front runner like the Chiefs from adding the defensive lineman who ranks third in active sacks.”
Campbell, 38, has recorded four sacks, 46 tackles, five pass breakups and one forced fumble for the 7-8 Dolphins. He has appeared in two Super Bowls, but is still chasing the elusive Lombardi Trophy.
“My whole career I’ve been close, but no cigar,” said Campbell. “I want that cigar.”
Unfortunately, Detroit still remains lower on the waiver wire than teams that could also benefit from Campbell’s services, including the Ravens.
Additional reading
1.) Za’Darius Smith Still Irate at Packers: ‘They Lied’
2.) Six Lions Players to Watch Against 49ers
3.) Two Lions Ruled Out, Reeves-Maybin Questionable Against 49ers
When do the Detroit Lions play today?
Short answer: they don’t!
Welcome to Week 17 of the 2024 NFL season, which began Wednesday this week with two Christmas Day games between the Kansas City Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers and then continued with an afternoon matchup of the Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans. T
This is the most sprawled out week of NFL action perhaps ever, with games on Wednesday (Ravens vs. Texans, Chiefs vs. Steelers), Thursday (Bears vs. Seahawks), Saturday (Chargers vs. Patriots, Broncos vs. Bengals, Cardinals vs. Rams), Sunday and last but not least, Monday.
The Lions do not play on Sunday, playing in the last game of the week on the road against the San Francisco 49ers in a rematch of last year’s NFC championship.
Here’s a quick look at the Lions in Week 17.
Do the Lions play today?
No. The Lions do not play on Sunday, but will be in action on Monday for Monday Night Football on ABC & ESPN against the 49ers. Before the season, a lot of people circled their calendars for the Week 17 NFC championship rematch between the Lions and 49ers as one of the games of the year. While the stakes remain high, it certainly won’t be one of the biggest games of the year anymore. Pretty much everything that could go wrong for the 49ers this year has, and Kyle Shanahan’s team has already been eliminated from the playoffs but will be trying to play spoiler. The Lions have already locked up their spot in the postseason, but depending on what the Vikings do in their matchup with the Packers, the Lions could potentially lock up the No. 1 seed in the NFC with a win.
Watch Lions-49ers on ESPN+
The Lions played on Monday Night Football earlier this year, beating the Seattle Seahawks, 42-29, in a shootout at Ford Field. The Lions are 7-8 on Mondays since 1999 and 2-1 under Dan Campbell.
The extra day of rest this week will be given back heading into Week 18, as the Lions prepare for a potentially huge game in the final week of the season against the Vikings.
Week 17 schedule NFL
Follow live NFL Week 17 scores at https://sportsdata.usatoday.com.
Matchup
Day
Time
Channel
Kansas City Chiefs 29, Pittsburgh Steelers 10 (Box score)
Wed
1 p.m.
Netflix
Baltimore Ravens 31, Houston Texans 2 (Box score)
Wed
4:30 p.m.
Netflix
Seattle Seahawks 6, Chicago Bears 3 (Box score)
Thu
8:15 p.m.
Amazon
Los Angeles Chargers at New England Patriots (Box score)
Sat
1 p.m.
NFLN
Denver Broncos at Cincinnati Bengals (Box score)
Sat
4:30 p.m.
NFLN
Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams (Box score)
Sat
8:10 p.m.
NFLN
New York Jets at Buffalo Bills (Box score)
Sun
1 p.m.
CBS
Tennessee Titans at Jacksonville Jaguars (Box score)
Sun
1 p.m.
CBS
Las Vegas Raiders at New Orleans Saints (Box score)
Sun
1 p.m.
Fox
Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Box score)
Sun
1 p.m.
CBS
Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles (Box score)
Sun
1 p.m.
Fox
Indianapolis Colts at New York Giants (Box score)
Sun
1 p.m.
Fox
Miami Dolphins at Cleveland Browns (Box score)
Sun
1 p.m.
CBS
Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings (Box score)
Sun
4:25 p.m.
Fox
Atlanta Falcons at Washington Commanders (Box score)
Sun
8:20 p.m.
NBC
Detroit Lions at San Francisco 49ers (Box score)
Mon
8:15 p.m.
ESPN/ABC
We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams got a 15-yard penalty for taunting Chicago Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson for the second time this season on Sunday. The former Alabama All-American got the first during the Lions’ 23-20 victory over the Bears on Nov. 28, then picked up another in a 34-17 win on Sunday.
“He was great,” Detroit coach Dan Campbell said about his sideline talk with Williams after Sunday’s penalty. “Came over and it’s just, ‘Look, you can’t give them a free ride.’ He knew. It’s just, ‘Get it out of the way and get back on the field.’ And he was good.
“That’s what I love about him. He doesn’t get bent out of shape. He just said, ‘I got it.’ And he goes back in and it doesn’t affect the way he played the rest of the game. He was great. I love where he’s at right now. I really do.”
The NFL was not as understanding. Williams was fined $11,255 for the infraction, the league announced on Saturday. The NFL did not fine Williams for his taunting penalty on Nov. 28.
JAMESON WILLIAMS SCORES LONG-DISTANCE TOUCHDOWN AGAINST CHICAGO BEARS
Williams wasn’t the only former Alabama standout fined by the NFL for taunting during a Week 16 game. Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey, a former Hoover High School star, also was fined $11,255 for taunting. Humphrey was not penalized during the game for the transgression, but the NFL still imposed the fine after the cornerback held out the football behind him toward his pursuers as he returned an interception for a touchdown in a 34-17 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday.
MARLON HUMPHREY SCORES MILESTONE NFL TOUCHDOWN FOR ALABAMA
Two other players from Alabama high schools and colleges were among the 22 fined by the NFL for Week 16.
Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (Alabama) got an $11,255 penalty for a face-mask penalty.
Green Bay Packers defensive lineman Colby Wooden (Auburn) got a $6,150 fine for an unnecessary-roughness penalty.
The NFL uses a collectively bargained schedule of fines to determine the amount of monetary punishment. The NFL’s Schedule of Fines also comes with a list of aggravating and mitigating factors that can affect the size of a fine.
FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.
Lions Listed as Potential Landing Spot for Dolphins DT Calais Campbell
San Francisco’s new political motto is ‘throw the bums out’ – The San Francisco Standard
Stars Fined by NHL for Violating CBA
Dolphins playoff picture: Scenarios, chances for Miami to make postseason
Police cruiser involved in crash in Boston – Boston News, Weather, Sports | WHDH 7News
Colorado Rockies game no. 116 thread: Zac Gallen vs José Ureña
Why Marjorie Taylor Greene was ‘kicked out’ of the Freedom Caucus according to Rep. Buck
See it: Tesla crashes into Columbus convention center at 70 mph
Fox News Politics: Georgia the whole day through
Death of missing Oregon girl found in stream ruled homicide
European officials pitch new idea to shore up defenses with Trump's return
Italy says talks ongoing with Iran to release Cecilia Sala from prison
A Sunday in the Park : Up First from NPR
State attorneys general ask SCOTUS to uphold TikTok divest-or-ban law amid Trump request to pause ban
Plane veers off runway and crashes in S Korea, killing at least 29: Report
-
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24924653/236780_Google_AntiTrust_Trial_Custom_Art_CVirginia__0003_1.png "Google’s counteroffer to the government trying to break it up is unbundling Android apps")
Technology1 week agoGoogle’s counteroffer to the government trying to break it up is unbundling Android apps
-
News1 week agoNovo Nordisk shares tumble as weight-loss drug trial data disappoints
-
Politics1 week agoIllegal immigrant sexually abused child in the U.S. after being removed from the country five times
-
Entertainment1 week ago'It's a little holiday gift': Inside the Weeknd's free Santa Monica show for his biggest fans
-
Lifestyle1 week agoThink you can't dance? Get up and try these tips in our comic. We dare you!
-
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25672934/Metaphor_Key_Art_Horizontal.png "There’s a reason Metaphor: ReFantanzio’s battle music sounds as cool as it does")
Technology5 days agoThere’s a reason Metaphor: ReFantanzio’s battle music sounds as cool as it does
-
News6 days agoFrance’s new premier selects Eric Lombard as finance minister
-
Business4 days agoOn a quest for global domination, Chinese EV makers are upending Thailand's auto industry