Mary Sheffield

Rule Changes

Announced land bank reforms on Nov. 9, 2026.

On Nov. 9, Mayor Mary Sheffield ordered the release of city holds on 16,000 Detroit Land Bank Authority properties and announced a five-point plan to make buying and fixing them easier. The plan adds buyer vetting, free tours of distressed homes, $3 million in grants and a public map covering 56,000 parcels.

Updated Yesterday

Rule Changes

In office; urged Detroiters to apply for HOPE before the Nov. 6 deadline

Detroit's 2026 Homeowners Property Exemption application window closed at 4:30 p.m. Nov. 6. The city's posted deadline passed without an announced extension, and applications submitted after the cutoff will not be accepted.

Updated Oct 31

Built World

Praised the East Warren expansion in a city statement

Baobab Fare owners Mamba Hamissi and Nadia Nijimbere broke ground Oct. 26 on a second restaurant at 16900 East Warren. The 3,000-square-foot building, a former video rental store and tax office, sat empty about a decade. City officials put the project at $2.5 million; the renovation itself has been reported at $1.3 million. No opening date has been announced.

Updated Oct 30

Built World

In office, pushing housing construction

Detroit issued a $2.2 million building permit on October 19 for a three-story, 32-unit building at 3075 16th Street in North Corktown. The building is part of Preserve on Ash III, a 60-unit income-restricted project that pairs apartment buildings with eight townhomes on 14th, 15th and 16th streets.

Updated Oct 24

Built World

Mayor; former Detroit City Council member (12 years)

After 19 months of construction, Greektown's Monroe Street is now a car-free plaza from Randolph to St. Antoine. The $20 million state-funded redesign includes granite paving, 50 trees, 50 smart lampposts with cameras, and free public Wi-Fi from Cronus Internet. The street's 124 cameras feed Detroit police's Real Time Crime Center.

Updated Oct 17

Built World

As of September 2026: Leading the bus stop upgrade initiative

Detroit city leaders said Sept. 28 they will install more than 200 new bus shelters and 200 benches at bus stops through 2027, with about 100 shelters and 80 benches already in place. The upgrades target high-ridership stops across the city, part of the DDOT Reimagined plan to improve the transit system.

Updated Sep 30

Built World

As of September 2026: Current mayor, promoting park investments

Detroit is building its first BMX bike and nature park at Dorais Park, a $1.5 million project the city announced in July with more than a mile of multi-use trails, a BMX course and upgraded playground equipment, and said would be complete in autumn 2026. It is one of 11 neighbourhood parks being upgraded under a $19.85 million programme funded by city, federal, state and philanthropic money, including the Gilbert Family Foundation.

Updated Sep 19

Built World

As of September 2026: Declared a local state of emergency on Sept. 4

A line of severe storms swept through Southeast Michigan on Sept. 3-4, knocking out power to more than 350,000 utility customers and dropping an EF-2 tornado on Detroit's east side. The tornado was the first to touch down inside Detroit city limits in nearly 30 years.

Updated Sep 6

Built World

As of August 2026: Presiding over the body that must approve the demolition contract

A vacant house on Detroit's west side has sat empty long enough that the city wants it gone. Detroit's procurement office filed an emergency demolition contract with the City Council on July 27, asking approval to pay DMC Consultants Inc. $28,350 to tear down the structure at 118 W Dakota.

Updated Aug 26