Detroit Sues Former HGTV Star Nicole Curtis Over Neglected Property

The city of Detroit has taken legal action against Nicole Curtis and her company Detroit Renovations LLC, alleging the property owner failed to restore a deteriorating home in violation of a prior court mandate.

The 49-year-old former television host and her business have owned the property since a 2021 court ruling. A civil nuisance-abatement suit filed by the city contends the residence has posed an ongoing threat to the surrounding community, even after Wayne County Circuit Judge Timothy Kenny issued a 2021 court order requiring its renovation.

According to the lawsuit, the property has accumulated numerous violations including structural damage and garbage accumulation, generating more than 25 violation tickets over time. The city is holding Curtis personally accountable, asserting she was aware of these code violations.

Detroit is seeking a court declaration that the property constitutes a public nuisance, along with orders mandating the completion of necessary repairs and payment of outstanding fines.

Curtis's television career hit a major setback when HGTV canceled Rehab Addict following the emergence of video footage showing her using a racial slur during filming. The long-running series, which debuted in 2010, documented Curtis's efforts to renovate historic homes and prevent them from demolition.

In July 2025, Curtis announced the show would go on hiatus, with the second half of season nine postponed from its original air date until February 2026. The network subsequently canceled the program entirely.