Hollow Hype

Elizabeth Nelson
  • 5.0 (30)
  • True Crime
  • Series

Ann Arbor, Michigan is one of the most educated communities in the country, but its local government was taken in by a twice convicted felon. In California, Heidi went to prison for fraud. In West Virginia, she was convicted of conspiracy to commit money laundering and narrowly avoided prison. Beginning in 2020, elected leaders and City staff in Ann Arbor promoted Heidi's businesses and embraced her as a community partner. Former Ann Arbor City Council Member Elizabeth Nelson shares what happened in Michigan. She digs through local archives and government records to understand how other communities fell victim to HOLLOW HYPE.

Episodes

  1. Episode 1

    “Don’t you know? Developers lie”

    In her first few months on Ann Arbor City Council, Elizabeth Nelson met Heidi, a twice convicted felon who was eager to influence policy at City Hall. In their very first conversation, Heidi didn’t tell the truth. Heidi’s Henry Street project in Ann Arbor:https://www.nuveen.com/greencapital/the-henry MLive/Ann Arbor News coverage of the Henry Street project:https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2019/02/group-living-with-co-working-space-for-young-professionals-coming-to-ann-arbor.html 1980 Pioneer High School yearbook:https://aadl.org/sites/default/files/docfiles/yearbook-pioneer_high_school-1980.pdf Michigan Daily (1982)https://digital.bentley.umich.edu/midaily/mdp.39015071754704/182 Michigan Daily (1983)https://digital.bentley.umich.edu/midaily/mdp.39015071754720/603 Michigan Daily (2025): ‘I would make it up to you’: A local developer, an FBI inquiry and money in Ann Arbor politicshttps://www.michigandaily.com/news/focal-point/a-local-developer-an-fbi-inquiry-and-money-in-ann-arbor-politics/If you know something about Heidi’s activities in Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, or California, please email:HollowHypePodcast@gmail.com

  2. Episode 2

    “Investors are pocketing the difference”

    Heidi was still on probation when she bought her first property in Ann Arbor. Local residents noticed that she was converting homes and apartments into short term rentals (Airbnb). Burns Park & Lower Burns Park (Ann Arbor)https://annarborobserver.com/guide/burns-park-4/ Heidi’s portfoliohttps://www.staysby4m.com/our-listings Meet Kurt Berggrenhttps://aadl.org/N127_0056_073https://www.legalnews.com/Home/Articles?DataId=1002784 Ann Arbor City Council resolution calling for study of short term rentals (March 2019)https://a2gov.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=3888770&GUID=856D2FBF-DDA8-4431-89B7-6FB33E60C3F9 South Pasadena home (2013)https://www.southpasadenaca.gov/files/assets/public/v/1/boards-and-commissions/documents/cultural-heritage-commission/chc-min-121913.pdf If you know something about Heidi’s activities in Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, or California, please email:HollowHypePodcast@gmail.com

  3. Episode 3

    “I don’t mean a bribe”

    Ann Arbor City Council considers a regulation that would impact Heidi’s short term rental business. She makes a desperate phone call to then Council Member Elizabeth Nelson. Public meetings re: short term rentals (October 2019)https://a2elnel.com/post/city-to-hold-public-meetings-in-october-about-short-term-rental-regulation/Resolution directing regulation (January 2020)https://a2gov.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=4286174&GUID=7FF5FC94-EED2-4D64-99C3-901D0AD3CE8D Ordinance approved with six-month delay in enforcement (September 2020)https://a2gov.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=4589957&GUID=7ACF876A-8A8A-407A-8023-314BB78026F5 MLive reporting on short term rentals in Ann Arbor (June 2026)​​https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2026/06/ann-arbor-has-nearly-300-short-term-rental-units-they-fetch-up-to-9999-per-night.html If you know something about Heidi’s activities in Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, or California, please email:HollowHypePodcast@gmail.com

  4. Episode 4

    “Emergent Industry”

    A new Ann Arbor City Council majority wants to weaken the STR ordinance, in order to protect Heidi’s businesses. When then Council Member Elizabeth Nelson publicizes her concerns, the FBI visits her at home. Ann Arbor City Council meeting minutes (January 6, 2020)https://a2gov.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=M&ID=737701&GUID=2D1F0EB0-3191-498A-A936-E08ED71D51DE Ann Arbor City Council Resolution sponsored by Mayor Taylor (December 21, 2020)https://a2gov.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=4733989&GUID=7AA9862B-49AD-4541-9831-4FE461B4AF9E Ann Arbor City Council meeting minutes (December 21, 2020)https://a2gov.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=M&ID=749425&GUID=F3C77550-F87F-45C4-B558-3183D4A831D3 Elizabeth Nelson Blog Post "Housing, Profits, and Hypocrisy" (December 27, 2020)https://a2elnel.com/post/housing-profits-and-hypocrisy/ Michigan Daily: ‘I would make it up to you’: A local developer, an FBI inquiry and money in Ann Arbor politics (March 26, 2025)https://www.michigandaily.com/news/focal-point/a-local-developer-an-fbi-inquiry-and-money-in-ann-arbor-politics/If you know something about Heidi’s activities in Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, or California, please email:HollowHypePodcast@gmail.com

  5. Episode 5

    “They’re owed their dues, right? Risk, reward”

    Heidi hires a member of the City Planning Commission in Ann Arbor to design her next projects: a former grocery store and more short term rentals in a development covering an entire block. Heidi’s wife Marge takes the lead in promoting a rebranded business. 2021 amendments to Ann Arbor short term rental ordinance (May 3, 2021)https://a2gov.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=4892427&GUID=B937507A-2A1C-4FEB-8F94-9692ED9EBB88&FullText=1 Lisa Sauve joins Ann Arbor Planning commission (July 17, 2018)https://a2gov.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=M&ID=613336&GUID=71AD6B79-E991-465A-92F0-82F5D044D196 4M podcast with Lisa Sauve (April 23, 2021)https://open.spotify.com/episode/2XZRrmeeJnRo9bMsGMoXrW “All About Ann Arbor” promotion of Venue (November 16, 2022)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQlMsjRUtfM “Live in the D” promotion of Venue (September 6, 2024)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7mT4lgh5Wk Marge Poscher promotes Venue & Southtown (April 25, 2023)https://annarborobserver.com/imagining-southtown/ Heidi’s “Tech Talk” for Ann Arbor SPARK (October 24, 2022)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwaX-DFKPFM Ann Arbor Planning commission postpones Southtown (May 16, 2023)https://a2gov.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=M&ID=1069300&GUID=522DC576-C1A2-446E-B788-4A07AD4EA209 Lisa Sauve responds to postponement (May 21, 2023)https://annarboraf.com/episode-71-civic-therapy-wtf-planning-with-lisa-sauve-and-scott-trudeauepisode-71/ Michigan State Representative Felicia Brabec endorses Southtown (June 21, 2023)https://a2gov.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=12109053&GUID=B8B6B9A7-79B6-4FC2-B66C-4C125F62318C MLive: Police investigation into death of Margaret Poscher (November 14, 2025)https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2025/11/police-investigating-death-of-ann-arbor-developer-known-as-caretaker-at-heart.htmlIf you know something about Heidi’s activities in Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, or California, please email:HollowHypePodcast@gmail.com

  6. Episode 6

    “We can sell that together”

    Residents question Heidi’s plan for more Airbnb near the stadium. Heidi reinvents herself as a sustainability expert to align with power players at Ann Arbor City Hall. Twenty years earlier, Heidi’s broadband scheme was endorsed by members of Congress from both Ohio and West Virginia. Ann Arbor City Council meeting (May 3, 2021)https://youtu.be/MYwyZAJsZO4 Ann Arbor City Council meeting (August 7, 2023)https://youtu.be/OdWTqtEnrds Public engagement meeting for Southtown (September 21, 2022)https://a2elnel.com/post/public-meeting-for-southtown-by-4m-development-sept-21-2022/Ann Arbor City Council meeting minutes (September 5, 2023)https://a2gov.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=M&ID=1062180&GUID=5D95AE16-32E0-4256-A9A9-1F9D311ABF33 Elizabeth Nelson video re: Southtown - A2Council Update: Airbnb in Ann Arbor "The absence of community"https://youtu.be/5LLslDzWkOg Dr. Missy Stults presentation (March 2023)https://youtu.be/FklTmEP-UMw News recording (2000)https://youtu.be/yez875CL2Zo Ohio Broadband video (2012)https://youtu.be/wvC3EbRd2b8 Mountain State College promotion (2012)https://youtu.be/ovfFD73YCko SXSW Conference (March 2024)https://annarborusa.org/news/ann-arbor-spark-returns-to-midwest-house-at-sxsw-leads-panel-on-sustainable-innovation/https://youtu.be/Zoj0w5B-HrM If you know something about Heidi’s activities in Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, or California, please email:HollowHypePodcast@gmail.com

  • 6 Episodes

5
out of 5
30 Ratings

About

Ann Arbor, Michigan is one of the most educated communities in the country, but its local government was taken in by a twice convicted felon. In California, Heidi went to prison for fraud. In West Virginia, she was convicted of conspiracy to commit money laundering and narrowly avoided prison. Beginning in 2020, elected leaders and City staff in Ann Arbor promoted Heidi's businesses and embraced her as a community partner. Former Ann Arbor City Council Member Elizabeth Nelson shares what happened in Michigan. She digs through local archives and government records to understand how other communities fell victim to HOLLOW HYPE.

Information

  • Creator
    Elizabeth Nelson
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    6
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    ©2026 Ann Arbor Democracy LLC
  • Show Website
    Hollow Hype