Title
The Board of Water Commissioners for the City of Detroit Water and Sewerage Department APPROVES the Settlement Agreement resolving pending Brightmoor condemnation matters involving Michael Williams and affiliated entities and AUTHORIZES the Director to take such action as may be necessary to effectuate the settlement.
Body
Agenda of May, 20 2026
Item No. 2026-122
TO: The Honorable
Board of Water Commissioners
City of Detroit, Michigan
FROM: Gary Brown, Director
Water and Sewerage Department
RE: Approval of Settlement Agreement
MOTION
Upon recommendation of Scott MacGriff, Chief General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer, the Board of Water Commissioners for the City of Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (“DWSD”) hereby APPROVES the Settlement Agreement resolving pending condemnation matters associated with the Brightmoor Green Stormwater Infrastructure Project involving Michael Williams, an individual, and his various entities: Brightmoor Collaborative, Inc., Author Collective, Inc., and Family Property Investments, Inc. The Board hereby AUTHORIZES the Director to take such further actions as may be necessary to implement and effectuate the Settlement Agreement and related property acquisitions.
BACKGROUND / JUSTIFICATION
DWSD initiated condemnation proceedings in Wayne County Circuit Court to acquire multiple residential and vacant parcels necessary for implementation of the Brightmoor Green Stormwater Infrastructure Project (the “Project”), a major stormwater management initiative intended to mitigate chronic flooding, improve stormwater detention capacity, and support DWSD’s long-term environmental and regulatory obligations within the Brightmoor neighborhood.
The properties subject to the litigation included two residential structures and six vacant residential parcels associated with Michael Williams (“Williams”), Brightmoor Collaborative, Inc., Author Collective, Inc., and Family Property Investments, Inc. The condemnation proceedings involved contested valuation issues, disputed owner-occupancy claims, potential necessity litigation, attorney fee exposure under the Uniform Condemnation Procedures Act (“UCPA”), and related litigation risks that threatened to delay acquisition of critical Project parcels.
On May 7, 2026, following facilitation before mediator Stephon Bagne, the parties executed a mediated Settlement Agreement resolving the pending litigation. The Agreement provides for:
• payment of total just compensation and interest in the amount of $140,000, inclusive of estimated judgment interest compensation;
• payment of statutory attorney fees in the amount of $20,661 to counsel for Defendants;
• conveyance of the eight (8) parcels to DWSD and/or the City as necessary for the Project’s implementation;
• dismissal and resolution of the pending condemnation matters; and
As part of the mediated framework, DWSD agreed to use its best efforts to support the phased transfer of at least eleven (11) nearby Burgess Street parcels located south of Lyndon Avenue for recreational and public park purposes, with the possibility of an additional seventeen (17) parcels being conveyed in later phases if approved by the Detroit City Council and/or Detroit Land Bank Authority.
The negotiated settlement avoids continued litigation expense, delay, appellate risk, and uncertainty associated with contested condemnation proceedings while securing timely site control necessary for continued implementation of the Project.