DETROIT – Residents say a temporary boiler outside a Riverview Health rehab center on Jefferson Avenue in Detroit is still running despite a city order to shut it off and thousands of dollars in fines.
Homeowners in the West Village neighborhood say the boiler was installed last month and has been making near-constant noise since it began operating.
“I live four doors up the street, and you can hear it throughout the house, louder on the cold days,” said resident Bob Rhoades.
The city’s Buildings, Safety, Engineering, and Environmental Department (BSEED) issued a warning letter ordering Riverview Health to turn off the boiler by Feb. 26.
That deadline, residents say, passed without compliance.
“My guess is they’re probably trying to just run out the clock until their boiler is fixed and then claim they had no other way to do it,” said resident Noah Delaney.
Riverview Health did not respond to repeated requests for comment.
Local 4 visited the company’s corporate offices in Bingham Farms during business hours but found the door locked.
The agent listed for the company on the Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) website did not return calls and left no voicemail response on Tuesday (March 3).
Residents say their efforts to get the company’s attention are not new.
“They’re just non-responsive when it comes to landscaping issues, waste in our alleys, summertime air conditioning noise, now this is just the latest example,” said Nick Mancuso.
“They’ve been very difficult to deal with, and we’ve had constant issues with them, so I’m not surprised that they’re holding out,” said Danny Gianino.
BSEED Director Dave Bell said the department has issued fines totaling around $6,000 so far and is continuing to fine Riverview Health at least $1,500 a day until the boiler is shut off.
“Parts are on order, and they’ve got this band-aid until they can get the boiler repaired,” Bell said.
The city’s law department has given the company until Friday, March 6, to find a fix.
If the problem persists, the city has said it will pursue a nuisance-abatement lawsuit.
“The law department has issued them a fair warning letter,” Bell said. “They did respond to the fair warning letter, they’ve had conversations with the law department, and our lawyer basically told them they have until Friday to solve this problem or else they’re going to go to court with them.”
We’ve also reached out to District 5 Detroit City Council member Renata Miller.
“This matter was brought to my attention yesterday and early today by several West Village residents and was first brought to the city’s attention on February 14th.
Since that time, the city has taken decisive enforcement action and have issued approximately $6,000 in citations related to the ongoing noise and vibration violations.
The Law Department issued a formal warning letter, and the business responded this past Friday.
Our legal team spoke with their representatives yesterday and made it clear that they have until this Friday, March 6, 2026, to fully address and correct the noise and vibration issues.
If they fail to comply, they are prepared to pursue legal action.
In the meantime, enforcement will continue, and enforcement will be issuing no less than $1,500 in citations per day until the business comes into full compliance.
I take quality-of-life concerns seriously because our residents deserve peace in their homes.
BSEED has taken the necessary enforcement steps, and I will say actively engaged until this matter is resolved."
District 5 Detroit City Council member Renata Miller