Aaron Mondry
@amondry.bsky.social
Senior Reporter with @outliermedia.org. I cover housing, development and real estate in Detroit.
https://outliermedia.org/
https://outliermedia.org/
Pinned
Aaron Mondry
@amondry.bsky.social
· Nov 21
Property speculation in Detroit: Know the speculators
Outlier Media is taking an in-depth look at property speculation and its effects on Detroit.
outliermedia.org
Here's where you can find all the stories in our series, The Speculators of Detroit. So far, we've got pieces on Dennis Kefallinos, how speculators hide their identities and its impact on Detroit neighborhoods. You'll find all future articles here, too.
outliermedia.org/detroit-spec...
outliermedia.org/detroit-spec...
Perry Columbus, an Iraq War veteran, thought he’d won an important victory in his dispute with the Detroit Land Bank Authority last year. It was instead only a reprieve.
“This situation has been as stressful as when I was in Iraq,” Columbus said.
outliermedia.org/detroit-land...
“This situation has been as stressful as when I was in Iraq,” Columbus said.
outliermedia.org/detroit-land...
Detroit Land Bank: Veteran continues fighting for home
For more than a year, Perry Columbus has been in a dispute with the Detroit Land Bank over his home.
outliermedia.org
January 21, 2026 at 9:10 PM
Perry Columbus, an Iraq War veteran, thought he’d won an important victory in his dispute with the Detroit Land Bank Authority last year. It was instead only a reprieve.
“This situation has been as stressful as when I was in Iraq,” Columbus said.
outliermedia.org/detroit-land...
“This situation has been as stressful as when I was in Iraq,” Columbus said.
outliermedia.org/detroit-land...
Reposted by Aaron Mondry
All Perry Columbus has sought since coming home from the Iraq War is peace. He hasn’t quite gotten it yet.
The Detroit Land Bank is headed back to court trying to reclaim his home — one he’s spent more than $30,000 fixing up.
The latest from @amondry.bsky.social:
The Detroit Land Bank is headed back to court trying to reclaim his home — one he’s spent more than $30,000 fixing up.
The latest from @amondry.bsky.social:
Detroit Land Bank: Veteran continues fighting for home
For more than a year, Perry Columbus has been in a dispute with the Detroit Land Bank over his home.
outliermedia.org
January 21, 2026 at 4:07 PM
All Perry Columbus has sought since coming home from the Iraq War is peace. He hasn’t quite gotten it yet.
The Detroit Land Bank is headed back to court trying to reclaim his home — one he’s spent more than $30,000 fixing up.
The latest from @amondry.bsky.social:
The Detroit Land Bank is headed back to court trying to reclaim his home — one he’s spent more than $30,000 fixing up.
The latest from @amondry.bsky.social:
Reposted by Aaron Mondry
BREAKING: Detroit has asked the judge in its lawsuit against RealT to appoint a receiver to manage its large portfolio. The request could be decided on as soon as this Friday.
If approved, the receiver could undertake repairs and demolitions at RealT’s expense. 👀
@amondry.bsky.social's latest:
If approved, the receiver could undertake repairs and demolitions at RealT’s expense. 👀
@amondry.bsky.social's latest:
RealT: Detroit requests receiver to oversee crypto landlord
The City of Detroit has requested a court-appointed receiver to oversee RealT’s portfolio.
outliermedia.org
January 14, 2026 at 6:17 PM
BREAKING: Detroit has asked the judge in its lawsuit against RealT to appoint a receiver to manage its large portfolio. The request could be decided on as soon as this Friday.
If approved, the receiver could undertake repairs and demolitions at RealT’s expense. 👀
@amondry.bsky.social's latest:
If approved, the receiver could undertake repairs and demolitions at RealT’s expense. 👀
@amondry.bsky.social's latest:
BREAKING: Detroit has asked a judge to appoint a receiver to oversee RealT's large and troubled portfolio -- a potentially major development in the nuisance abatement lawsuit against the crypto landlord.
outliermedia.org/realt-detroi...
outliermedia.org/realt-detroi...
RealT: Detroit requests receiver to oversee crypto landlord
The City of Detroit has requested a court-appointed receiver to oversee RealT’s portfolio.
outliermedia.org
January 14, 2026 at 2:29 PM
BREAKING: Detroit has asked a judge to appoint a receiver to oversee RealT's large and troubled portfolio -- a potentially major development in the nuisance abatement lawsuit against the crypto landlord.
outliermedia.org/realt-detroi...
outliermedia.org/realt-detroi...
Reposted by Aaron Mondry
“Each individual apartment building is historically, architecturally significant in its own way… But the district as a whole also benefits from the density and the continuity of the neighborhood.”
outliermedia.org/palmer-park-...
By @outliermedia.org’s @amondry.bsky.social
outliermedia.org/palmer-park-...
By @outliermedia.org’s @amondry.bsky.social
Palmer Park apartments in Detroit face uncertain future
Some Palmer Park apartment buildings’ future in Detroit are uncertain after Phoenix-based landlord Urban Communities stopped paying its bills.
outliermedia.org
January 13, 2026 at 4:02 PM
“Each individual apartment building is historically, architecturally significant in its own way… But the district as a whole also benefits from the density and the continuity of the neighborhood.”
outliermedia.org/palmer-park-...
By @outliermedia.org’s @amondry.bsky.social
outliermedia.org/palmer-park-...
By @outliermedia.org’s @amondry.bsky.social
Reposted by Aaron Mondry
Arizona-based Urban Communities began buying multifamily buildings in the neighborhood near Detroit’s northern border in 2020. Today, all 21 of the buildings are either in receivership, foreclosed or highly distressed.
Many are in dire physical condition.
Many are in dire physical condition.
Palmer Park apartments in Detroit face uncertain future
Some Palmer Park apartment buildings’ future in Detroit are uncertain after Phoenix-based landlord Urban Communities stopped paying its bills.
outliermedia.org
January 8, 2026 at 7:10 PM
Arizona-based Urban Communities began buying multifamily buildings in the neighborhood near Detroit’s northern border in 2020. Today, all 21 of the buildings are either in receivership, foreclosed or highly distressed.
Many are in dire physical condition.
Many are in dire physical condition.
Reposted by Aaron Mondry
IMO, Palmer Park could be one of the best and trendiest neighborhoods in the ENTIRE Midwest if redeveloped properly. The city needs to do everything possible to promote the proper development of the district. There's nothing else like it in Metro Detroit. Detroit needs density. PALMER PARK HAS IT!!!
Starting in 2020, an Arizona-based company bought 21 Palmer Park apartment buildings. Today, they're all foreclosed, highly distressed and unable to sell at rock-bottom prices. Huge blow to the historic neighborhood.
outliermedia.org/palmer-park-...
outliermedia.org/palmer-park-...
Palmer Park apartments in Detroit face uncertain future
Some Palmer Park apartment buildings’ future in Detroit are uncertain after Phoenix-based landlord Urban Communities stopped paying its bills.
outliermedia.org
January 8, 2026 at 5:15 PM
IMO, Palmer Park could be one of the best and trendiest neighborhoods in the ENTIRE Midwest if redeveloped properly. The city needs to do everything possible to promote the proper development of the district. There's nothing else like it in Metro Detroit. Detroit needs density. PALMER PARK HAS IT!!!
Starting in 2020, an Arizona-based company bought 21 Palmer Park apartment buildings. Today, they're all foreclosed, highly distressed and unable to sell at rock-bottom prices. Huge blow to the historic neighborhood.
outliermedia.org/palmer-park-...
outliermedia.org/palmer-park-...
Palmer Park apartments in Detroit face uncertain future
Some Palmer Park apartment buildings’ future in Detroit are uncertain after Phoenix-based landlord Urban Communities stopped paying its bills.
outliermedia.org
January 8, 2026 at 2:09 PM
Starting in 2020, an Arizona-based company bought 21 Palmer Park apartment buildings. Today, they're all foreclosed, highly distressed and unable to sell at rock-bottom prices. Huge blow to the historic neighborhood.
outliermedia.org/palmer-park-...
outliermedia.org/palmer-park-...
Hundreds of Detroiters are waiting to get money Wayne County owed them after foreclosing on their homes. But the treasurer's office is dragging its feet and seemingly making it as difficult as possible.
outliermedia.org/sheila-gibso...
outliermedia.org/sheila-gibso...
Judge Sheila Gibson recuses herself from Detroit foreclosure case
Sheila Gibson recused herself from Wayne County’s foreclosure claim case, another twist in a process that has kept Detroiters waiting.
outliermedia.org
December 23, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Hundreds of Detroiters are waiting to get money Wayne County owed them after foreclosing on their homes. But the treasurer's office is dragging its feet and seemingly making it as difficult as possible.
outliermedia.org/sheila-gibso...
outliermedia.org/sheila-gibso...
Detroit is now using AI "voice agents" (aka bots) to answer calls sent to district managers. And they apparently also have "emotional intelligence."
outliermedia.org/detroit-ai-c...
outliermedia.org/detroit-ai-c...
Detroit’s new AI chatbot is here to answer residents’ phone calls
Detroit’s AI chatbot, Emily, answers residents’ phone calls. Here’s how it’s going.
outliermedia.org
December 18, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Detroit is now using AI "voice agents" (aka bots) to answer calls sent to district managers. And they apparently also have "emotional intelligence."
outliermedia.org/detroit-ai-c...
outliermedia.org/detroit-ai-c...
Reposted by Aaron Mondry
Detroit needs more housing to keep up with the number of people moving here. City leaders think zoning changes could help.
Some residents and community groups say the proposals raise red flags. Here’s what’s in the proposed changes.
outliermedia.org/detroit-zoni...
Some residents and community groups say the proposals raise red flags. Here’s what’s in the proposed changes.
outliermedia.org/detroit-zoni...
Detroit zoning proposals: What they are and what to know
A new batch of proposals that would update Detroit zoning laws have caused some confusion. Here’s what to know.
outliermedia.org
December 16, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Detroit needs more housing to keep up with the number of people moving here. City leaders think zoning changes could help.
Some residents and community groups say the proposals raise red flags. Here’s what’s in the proposed changes.
outliermedia.org/detroit-zoni...
Some residents and community groups say the proposals raise red flags. Here’s what’s in the proposed changes.
outliermedia.org/detroit-zoni...
Curious about all the zoning changes being proposed in Detroit? So are lots of residents, community groups and even city councilmembers!
Here's our explainer of what's in all the proposals:
outliermedia.org/detroit-zoni...
Here's our explainer of what's in all the proposals:
outliermedia.org/detroit-zoni...
Detroit zoning proposals: What they are and what to know
A new batch of proposals that would update Detroit zoning laws have caused some confusion. Here’s what to know.
outliermedia.org
December 16, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Curious about all the zoning changes being proposed in Detroit? So are lots of residents, community groups and even city councilmembers!
Here's our explainer of what's in all the proposals:
outliermedia.org/detroit-zoni...
Here's our explainer of what's in all the proposals:
outliermedia.org/detroit-zoni...
Michigan officials insist 2019 auto no-fault law lowered car insurance rates. It didn’t.
"When you have to make adjustments based on assumptions to prove your points, you might not have a good point."
outliermedia.org/no-fault-mic...
"When you have to make adjustments based on assumptions to prove your points, you might not have a good point."
outliermedia.org/no-fault-mic...
Michigan no-fault law, insurance rates: What the numbers say
Michigan officials claimed a new report shows the 2019 no-fault law lowered car insurance rates — but that’s not true.
outliermedia.org
December 9, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Michigan officials insist 2019 auto no-fault law lowered car insurance rates. It didn’t.
"When you have to make adjustments based on assumptions to prove your points, you might not have a good point."
outliermedia.org/no-fault-mic...
"When you have to make adjustments based on assumptions to prove your points, you might not have a good point."
outliermedia.org/no-fault-mic...
I love this at the bottom of @kobylevin.bsky.social story. Such a great bit of transparency to help develop trust in the reporter's work.
November 25, 2025 at 2:44 PM
I love this at the bottom of @kobylevin.bsky.social story. Such a great bit of transparency to help develop trust in the reporter's work.
Reposted by Aaron Mondry
The presentation, project boards & livestream from MDOT's I-375 November community meeting are now online. Rendering shows the boulevard replacing the freeway with the I-75 interchange remaining as is for now.
375detroit.org/november-202...
375detroit.org/november-202...
November 2025 Community Meeting - The 375 Project
November 2025 Community Meeting
375detroit.org
November 24, 2025 at 9:00 PM
The presentation, project boards & livestream from MDOT's I-375 November community meeting are now online. Rendering shows the boulevard replacing the freeway with the I-75 interchange remaining as is for now.
375detroit.org/november-202...
375detroit.org/november-202...
Reposted by Aaron Mondry
Journalist challenge: Use “Machine Learning” when you mean machine learning and “LLM” when you mean LLM. Ditch “AI” as a catch-all term, it’s not useful for readers and it helps companies trying to confuse the public by obscuring the roles played by different technologies. 🧪
November 22, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Journalist challenge: Use “Machine Learning” when you mean machine learning and “LLM” when you mean LLM. Ditch “AI” as a catch-all term, it’s not useful for readers and it helps companies trying to confuse the public by obscuring the roles played by different technologies. 🧪
This is a big deal. Practically every developer in Detroit has told me it's essentially impossible to make a project pencil out without subsidies.
www.freep.com/story/news/p...
www.freep.com/story/news/p...
Detroit’s go-to tax deals for developers on the brink of vanishing
State tax programs used heavily by Detroit developers will expire soon unless lawmakers extend them.
www.freep.com
November 21, 2025 at 5:16 PM
This is a big deal. Practically every developer in Detroit has told me it's essentially impossible to make a project pencil out without subsidies.
www.freep.com/story/news/p...
www.freep.com/story/news/p...
This line about reductions in Detroit's water affordability plan really hit home:
“My health insurance premiums are doubling, and all the copays are quadrupling, and nothing goes down.”
outliermedia.org/dwsd-lifelin...
“My health insurance premiums are doubling, and all the copays are quadrupling, and nothing goes down.”
outliermedia.org/dwsd-lifelin...
DWSD’s new water payment plan is smaller and more expensive
DWSD opened applications for its new water payment assistance program, but it’s more exclusive and expensive.
outliermedia.org
November 20, 2025 at 2:49 PM
This line about reductions in Detroit's water affordability plan really hit home:
“My health insurance premiums are doubling, and all the copays are quadrupling, and nothing goes down.”
outliermedia.org/dwsd-lifelin...
“My health insurance premiums are doubling, and all the copays are quadrupling, and nothing goes down.”
outliermedia.org/dwsd-lifelin...
Reposted by Aaron Mondry
“I’ve served my county honorably,” says veteran Joseph Adams Jr. But the apartment he was placed in by a program designed for housing veterans isn’t suitable for his needs. He’s spent nearly a year bathing from a bucket.
What’s worse, his support is ending, and he may be on the street again soon.
What’s worse, his support is ending, and he may be on the street again soon.
MiSide housing aid fails Detroit veteran
MiSide is a program that helps veterans find stable housing. But one Detroiter was left in the lurch.
outliermedia.org
November 13, 2025 at 7:45 PM
“I’ve served my county honorably,” says veteran Joseph Adams Jr. But the apartment he was placed in by a program designed for housing veterans isn’t suitable for his needs. He’s spent nearly a year bathing from a bucket.
What’s worse, his support is ending, and he may be on the street again soon.
What’s worse, his support is ending, and he may be on the street again soon.
The Detroit Land Bank is entering a make-or-break moment, with questions swirling about its future swirl. It also just published a five-year strategic plan that doubles as a pitch for its continued existence. Will the plan be enough to save it?
outliermedia.org/detroit-land...
outliermedia.org/detroit-land...
Detroit Land Bank: Will it exist in five years?
Will the Detroit Land Bank exist in five years? Its new strategic plan makes the case to save the city’s largest landowner.
outliermedia.org
November 13, 2025 at 4:29 PM
The Detroit Land Bank is entering a make-or-break moment, with questions swirling about its future swirl. It also just published a five-year strategic plan that doubles as a pitch for its continued existence. Will the plan be enough to save it?
outliermedia.org/detroit-land...
outliermedia.org/detroit-land...
Despite the Air Force vet’s service, housing support officials say they’ve done all they can do to help Joseph Adams Jr., who was placed in an apartment that didn't meet his needs as a disabled person. And now he might even lose that.
outliermedia.org/miside-veter...
outliermedia.org/miside-veter...
MiSide housing aid fails Detroit veteran
MiSide is a program that helps veterans find stable housing. But one Detroiter was left in the lurch.
outliermedia.org
November 11, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Despite the Air Force vet’s service, housing support officials say they’ve done all they can do to help Joseph Adams Jr., who was placed in an apartment that didn't meet his needs as a disabled person. And now he might even lose that.
outliermedia.org/miside-veter...
outliermedia.org/miside-veter...
Reposted by Aaron Mondry
SNAP funding is on pause.
That means thousands of Detroit families who rely on the food assistance program will face a challenging November. Do you need food resources?
Here’s how Detroiters are showing up for each other:
That means thousands of Detroit families who rely on the food assistance program will face a challenging November. Do you need food resources?
Here’s how Detroiters are showing up for each other:
SNAP benefits on pause: Where to find help in Detroit
Thousands of Michigan residents will lose their SNAP benefits. Here’s where to find help in Detroit.
outliermedia.org
October 30, 2025 at 3:02 PM
SNAP funding is on pause.
That means thousands of Detroit families who rely on the food assistance program will face a challenging November. Do you need food resources?
Here’s how Detroiters are showing up for each other:
That means thousands of Detroit families who rely on the food assistance program will face a challenging November. Do you need food resources?
Here’s how Detroiters are showing up for each other:
This community nonprofit has staked everything on stalling a $180M redevelopment of the Villages at Parkside.
outliermedia.org/friends-of-p...
outliermedia.org/friends-of-p...
Friends of Parkside files complaint against Detroit Housing Commission
Friends of Parkside, a neighborhood nonprofit, is in a conflict with the Detroit Housing Commission that could leave its future vulnerable.
outliermedia.org
October 22, 2025 at 8:13 PM
This community nonprofit has staked everything on stalling a $180M redevelopment of the Villages at Parkside.
outliermedia.org/friends-of-p...
outliermedia.org/friends-of-p...
Reposted by Aaron Mondry
For nearly 35 years, Friends of Parkside has provided services to Villages at Parkside residents, like a free food pantry and a weekly bingo night.
But a conflict with the Detroit Housing Commission over a major redevelopment of the complex could spell doom. The latest from @amondry.bsky.social :
But a conflict with the Detroit Housing Commission over a major redevelopment of the complex could spell doom. The latest from @amondry.bsky.social :
outliermedia.org
October 22, 2025 at 7:50 PM
For nearly 35 years, Friends of Parkside has provided services to Villages at Parkside residents, like a free food pantry and a weekly bingo night.
But a conflict with the Detroit Housing Commission over a major redevelopment of the complex could spell doom. The latest from @amondry.bsky.social :
But a conflict with the Detroit Housing Commission over a major redevelopment of the complex could spell doom. The latest from @amondry.bsky.social :