DETROIT, MI - Low-income residents of a Cass Corridor apartment complex

who were unexpectedly told to vacate

the buildings per the wishes of a new landlord have now been given two months free rent as they search for new homes,

the Detroit News reports

.

A letter was reportedly sent April 30 to the tenants of the buildings, located in the 400 block of Henry Street, by the properties’ most recent owner, Peter Mercier of Grosse Point Farms, informing them of the change in plans.

Mercier bought the three buildings in 1983 for about $260,000, according to Detroit property tracking site WhyDontWeOwnThis.com.

It was not immediately clear who bought the properties. The News calls the paper trail for the purchaser of these and other properties in the area since 2008 as “opaque,” with Limited Liability Companies buying up land and leaving no contact details, while sellers sign confidentiality agreements.

There has been some speculation that the properties are in the foot print of a $650 million Detroit Red Wings arena and entertainment district. That project was first revealed near the end of last year, when Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch's Ilitch Holdings said that that the development hinged on passage of state legislation that allows for use of Downtown Development Authority funds. Such legislation passed in December, indicating plans could move forward.

An exact location for the project has not yet been disclosed. Last week a spokesman for the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation told MLive that the first chance the public is likely to get any more details on plans entertainment district will come when the Downtown Development Authority is ready to take action on it.