London v. City of Detroit

Plaintiff is owner of a bowling alley located on Grand River avenue in Detroit. He also owns 2 lots known as 6817-6823 Vinewood which are located nearby and which he has used, and seeks to continue to use, for parking the cars of bowling patrons.

The city of Detroit in a zoning ordinance, effective December 25, 1940, zoned these 2 lots for R2, a residence classification, requiring a special permit before property thus zoned could be used for a parking lot. No such permit has been obtained by plaintiff, and the city of Detroit, through its department of buildings and safety engineering, filed…