Detroit Thermal's Plans to Run Steam Lines Through Historic Greenspace Blocked by Judge.
A Wayne County Circuit Court judge has rejected Detroit Thermal’s bid to shut down a lawsuit brought by residents of Detroit’s historic Lafayette Park neighborhood, keeping in place a court order that blocks the utility from running steam lines through the protected greenspace. The decision is a significant setback for Detroit Thermal and residents of the nearby 1300 Lafayette high-rise, who could be left without a permanent heat source if their aging boilers fail again.
The lawsuit centers on whether Detroit Thermal has a valid legal right to use easements originally granted to Detroit Edison in the 1950s. The townhomes were still heated by steam back then, but residents argue that these easements are no longer valid due to changes in ownership and usage of the land. A court opinion concludes that the easements were narrow in scope, granted for specific purposes, and explicitly described as licenses rather than permanent property rights.
The judge also rejected Detroit Thermal's claim that decades-old utility easements give it the right to cross private property without authorization. The company had argued that any alleged harm was speculative and that the lawsuit was filed too late, but the court found that the residents adequately alleged Detroit Thermal entered the property without permission after fencing off portions of the greenspace.
A jury trial is scheduled for July 2026 as the case moves forward with a temporary restraining order still in effect.
A Wayne County Circuit Court judge has rejected Detroit Thermal’s bid to shut down a lawsuit brought by residents of Detroit’s historic Lafayette Park neighborhood, keeping in place a court order that blocks the utility from running steam lines through the protected greenspace. The decision is a significant setback for Detroit Thermal and residents of the nearby 1300 Lafayette high-rise, who could be left without a permanent heat source if their aging boilers fail again.
The lawsuit centers on whether Detroit Thermal has a valid legal right to use easements originally granted to Detroit Edison in the 1950s. The townhomes were still heated by steam back then, but residents argue that these easements are no longer valid due to changes in ownership and usage of the land. A court opinion concludes that the easements were narrow in scope, granted for specific purposes, and explicitly described as licenses rather than permanent property rights.
The judge also rejected Detroit Thermal's claim that decades-old utility easements give it the right to cross private property without authorization. The company had argued that any alleged harm was speculative and that the lawsuit was filed too late, but the court found that the residents adequately alleged Detroit Thermal entered the property without permission after fencing off portions of the greenspace.
A jury trial is scheduled for July 2026 as the case moves forward with a temporary restraining order still in effect.
. i mean, have they considered renewable energy options or something? but seriously, this decision is huge for the community and the environment. it's not just about preserving the greenspace, but also about holding corporations accountable for their actions.
. and now we get to see if these residents can really make a case for themselves against this big corporation.
. so here's to detroit thermal being blocked from ruining their steamy plans - let's keep fighting for a more sustainable future 
but at the same time, the judge made the right call imo - easements just dont apply like that anymore & detroit thermal shoulda gotten a permit or something. i mean, all this fuss over a lil piece of greenspace is just wild... what's next?! will they be able to just run steam lines through any ol park now? 
anyway, hope the residents can get their heat back on ASAP & i'll def be following this case in 2026! 
like, can you imagine having to live in a place without heat? It's already so hard during winter in Detroit, you know? And these residents of Lafayette Park are literally fighting for something that feels super basic - their right to use the greenspace as they want. I mean, it's not like they're asking for much, just to be able to enjoy their park and not have some big company come in and mess with it. It's wild how this all went down, too... apparently Detroit Thermal was trying to just waltz through with their plans and didn't even bother to ask anyone first 
. Anyway, fingers crossed for these residents and that they get the justice they deserve 
but thankfully a judge is all "nope" to that plan 
the court ruling makes total sense - those easements were super specific and not meant for just anyone to use 
and yeah, detroit thermal can't just barge in on private property without permission 
hopefully this means residents of 1300 lafayette high-rise won't be left freezing in their own homes 
let's keep those steam lines where they belong - underground 
#JusticeForDetroitResidents #SteamLineShenanigans #HistoricGreenspacesMatter 
detroit thermal thinks it's so cool running steam through our park, but i guess judge says nope 
guess that's what happens when you try to ruin a neighborhood's vibe 
anyway, at least we'll have some extra green space in the summer... not
I mean, can you imagine if people could just run their pipes through our backyards without asking? The greenspace argument does make some sense too - those easements were only meant for specific purposes, and it's not like the original owners thought steam lines would be a permanent fixture. It's good that the judge is protecting Lafayette Park's vibe 
). Can't wait for that jury trial in July 2026 - bring on the justice! 
I feel so bad for those residents, they're going through this stress and uncertainty about their heat source... it's like, you know when you're just trying to keep warm and cozy in your home, and then suddenly you're worried that the people who are supposed to be helping you (in this case, Detroit Thermal) might actually be putting you out on the streets... 
It's really frustrating that they can't seem to come to an agreement about what's fair. I hope the jury trial brings some closure soon and that everyone involved can find a way forward that works for all of them 
detroit thermal's plans to ruin our park r still blocked by a judge!!! 
they wanna run steam lines thru historic greenspace but now it's like, nope! 
! But now it looks like Detroit Thermal is gonna have to rethink their plans 
. The fact that the judge blocked them from running lines through that historic greenspace is huge news - I mean, can you imagine what it would've looked like if they'd actually gone ahead with it? 
It's not just about aesthetics though, some people are worried they'll lose heat in the winter... poor 1300 Lafayette residents 
. Guess we'll have to wait till July '26 for a jury trial to figure out what happens next 
!