Fox 2 Problem Solvers help Corktown building owner

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"The stress this has caused, it's been awful. Seven months of just pure hell."

That stress was finally easing up Wednesday as 57-year-old Arnold Carpen learned his family's legacy – a Detroit building in Corktown is no longer facing foreclosure.

"It’s great news, great news. It’s a lot better than it was three days ago. Three days ago we didn't even know how long we were going to have the property."

Carpen says the old Mobil gas station on Dalzelle - that he uses as a garage - has been in his family for over 50 years. Back in February, Carpen says he received a letter that the building was going into foreclosure for unpaid bills he says never received. Carpen told Fox 2 Tuesday those bills were over $8,000.

"They said it's because of storm water drain tax that’s on the property. I said I know nothing about it."

The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department was billing Carpen since August of 2013. Carpen was unable to get answers for seven months, but after speaking with Fox 2, the Water Department agreed to meet with Carpen just a day later.

"The only reason why you're even meeting with me is because Fox 2 put a camera on your deputy director. If it wasn’t for that, I’d still be flapping in the wind."

The department said Wednesday that Carpen's situation is rare, and his mailing address has been fixed.

"They explained to me that yes, they never billed me and they were going to remove all the back fees that were assessed to me without my knowledge."

"We apologize for any inconvenience that we may have caused and any undue stress. We have made calls but this was simply an administrative oversight," said Palencia Mobley, Dep. Director  & Chief Engineer of DWSD.

While Carpen says he's incredibly grateful he's able to keep his property, he plans to fight that tax.

"The water board disguises it as a user fee but the court has ruled it a tax and a court has ruled it an illegal tax," said Carpen.

"We need to take care of the problem forward. We still have a tax we can't afford."