The City of Detroit has filed a civil nuisance-abatement lawsuit against former HGTV host Nicole Curtis and her company, Detroit Renovations LLC, alleging they have failed to maintain and restore a blighted property in the city. The lawsuit claims the property has continued to be a public nuisance.
According to The Detroit News, Curtis gained ownership of the property in 2021 following litigation with the Detroit Land Bank Authority. At that time, Wayne County Circuit Judge Timothy Kenny declared the 1921 American foursquare-style home a danger to the community and mandated its renovation. Despite this order and multiple code violations issued to Curtis and her company, the city contends the property has not been brought into compliance and has continued to deteriorate.
Violations cited by the city include failure to repair or replace damaged, defective, and missing exterior features, as well as issues with the roof and gutters.
Curtis, known for her work preserving and restoring historic homes, particularly in Detroit and Minneapolis, was previously fired by HGTV in February. This action followed the emergence of a video from two years prior showing her using an offensive racial slur while filming "Rehab Addict." The network stated that such language does not align with HGTV's values. Curtis has since apologized for the remark, expressing remorse and regret.