Purpose
This analysis reviews data from the Michigan EGLE Pollution Emergency Alerting System (PEAS) to evaluate neighborhood air-quality conditions before and after the June 30, 2025 fire and shutdown at Aevitas Specialty Services Corp. (663 Lycaste St, Detroit, MI 48214). The goal is to assess how odor-complaint trends changed in the surrounding East Side corridor.
Background
Since the Aevitas fire, residents have reported noticeable improvements in neighborhood air quality, with the area no longer frequently affected by diesel and chemical odors. Building on the findings of the Legislative Policy Division (LPD) report that documented air-quality and complaint data prior to the fire, additional FOIA and data requests were submitted to better understand post-fire conditions and allow comparison between the two periods. While air-monitoring data are still being evaluated, the EGLE complaint data provide clear, independent evidence of change in community odor patterns.
Data Sources
- Michigan EGLE Pollution Emergency Alerting System (PEAS) complaint data, 2022–2025
- FOIA-released EGLE complaint datasets, including records through October 15, 2025
- Study window: April 1 – October 1 of each year
- Geographic focus: approximately one mile around 663 Lycaste Street, including adjoining streets within Detroit ZIP codes 48214, 48215, and 48207
Findings
| Category | 2024 Baseline (Apr 1–Oct 1 2024) | 2025 Pre-Fire (Apr 1–Jun 30 2025) | 2025 Post-Fire (Jul 1–Oct 1 2025) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aevitas-type odors (diesel / fuel / chemical / burning oil / gas / “raw egg”) | 14 | 10 | 1 |
| Paint-type odors (paint / spray / coating) | 12 | 2 | 1 |
| Other / unrelated (sewer / garbage / smoke / unknown) | 28 | 9 | 8 |
Change after June 30, 2025:
Odor complaints consistent with Aevitas-type emissions declined by roughly 90 percent between the pre-fire and post-fire periods. Paint-related and other odor categories did not show comparable changes.
Between April and June 2025, residents within one mile of 663 Lycaste Street filed approximately ten Aevitas-type odor complaints. In the three months after the June 30 fire and shutdown, only one similar complaint was recorded — a decline of about 90 percent. Paint-related and other odor complaints remained relatively stable, suggesting that the improvement in neighborhood air quality was specific to the end of Aevitas’s operations.
Interpretation
The complaint data indicate a clear, site-specific improvement in air-quality conditions following the Aevitas shutdown. The sharp reduction in fuel- and chemical-type odor complaints aligns closely with the facility’s closure. Other odor categories, such as paint or general nuisance smells, did not change significantly. This pattern suggests that the decline in complaints was localized and directly associated with the absence of Aevitas operations, rather than broader city-wide or seasonal variations.
Policy Implications
- Adopt and Implement the Aevitas Resolution:
Fully enact the Detroit City Council Resolution regarding Aevitas Specialty Services, establishing clear expectations for environmental accountability and public-health protection. - Strengthen Oversight through Existing Regulatory Tools:
Utilize all authorities identified in the Legislative Policy Division (LPD) report — including zoning, permitting, enforcement, and transparency mechanisms — to ensure that any future operation at 663 Lycaste Street proceeds only under enhanced scrutiny and enforceable compliance standards. - Mandate Real-Time Air Monitoring:
Require installation of continuous fence-line monitoring for volatile organic compounds (VOCs), benzene, and related pollutants as a pre-condition to any restart or new permit issuance. Monitoring data should be publicly accessible in real time to ensure accountability.
Conclusion
The complaint data show a clear and measurable trend: after Aevitas Specialty Services ceased operations, odor complaints from the surrounding neighborhoods dropped by approximately 90 percent. This decline aligns with the facility’s shutdown and suggests that its operations were a significant factor in local odor and air-quality conditions. These findings support stronger oversight, continuous real-time monitoring, and strict accountability requirementsbefore any future industrial activity is permitted at 663 Lycaste Street.