The Russell Woods Historic District Needs Your Help!

The DHNC is asking for your help on behalf of the residents of the Russell Woods Historic District.  Please read the below to see what they need from you.

Get Back Up (GBU) opened a 160 bed substance abuse facility in the Historic  Russell Woods District without permission from the zoning board in 2009.  This facility was once a Detroit Public School and although renovations were taking place over that summer the residents assumed a Charter School would open in the fall.  Once it was established that Dr. Billy Taylor of Northville Mi had created a facility housing felons & substance abuse clients, the residents of Russell woods took immediate actions. With the understanding that GBU was not a confined institution and their clients could leave at will (day or night), attorneys were retained and legal actions were filed.    Initially a hearing was held before the zoning board, whereupon, approximately a hundred residents attended voicing the inappropriateness of such a facility in their  community.  The zoning board agreed & denied Dr. Taylor's request to remain open. Dr. Taylor stood his ground & refuse to shut down.

In 2010, the law firm of Miller Canfield took on the case pro bono in support of the Russell Woods residents.  Over the next several years while GBU still operated illegally, Miller Canfield represented Its residents & successfully prevail through the Detroit Circuit Court twice.

Although Dr. Taylor had been denied twice by the zoning board & lost his case and appeal before Detroit's Circuit court he  refuse to shut down his facility even with a court order.  He petition a hearing before the State Supreme Court. They refused to hear his request.  GBU remained open until October 2015, when City of Detroit officially came in and shut them down. During the operations of this facility Russell Woods crime rate went up significantly. 

Dr. Taylor has requested a hearing before the Detroit Zoning Appeals Board. If he prevails that could set a precedence and open the possibility of a facility such as GBU opening in other historic districts such as Boston Edison.

It is understood that these facilities are needed, but not in a historic district.  Surely, Dr. Taylor wouldn't want a 160 felons & substance abuse clients living next door to his family!

The residents  of Russell Woods are requesting your support by attending the hearing schedule for Tuesday, February 9th at 10:15am at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center.  For those who cannot attend, a letter has been attached for your signature showing support. That letter can be dropped off to Debbie Baldwin or placed in an envelope & dropped in the mail slot of 2445 Boston. 

Thank you in advance for your time and attention to this matter.

Best Regards,
Yvonne Sebree
Russell Woods Historic Districts