Some tenants living in an Illinois apartment complex claimed they were trapped inside when the condemned property was suddenly boarded up on Friday. WLS-TV report.
An apartment complex in Chicago's south suburb of Harvey was recently boarded up after the city deemed it uninhabitable due to unsafe living conditions. The complex is also reportedly a hub of criminal activity.
In late August, a city building inspection found structural concerns. wagon tv report. A follow-up inspection in December revealed immediate safety risks, including significant deterioration of balconies and stairs, city officials told news outlets.
“He fell down the stairs,” James Williams, a 73-year-old mother who lives in the building, told WLS.
The city said the building's owner received a notice to vacate by Oct. 28, 2023. The City of Harvey also said it is the owner's responsibility to notify the tenant that they need to move out by a specified date.
Videos posted on social media showed that staff arrived at the apartment on Friday and began loading the unit.
Tenant Rudolph Williams told WLS he was still inside his apartment when crews boarded up his unit with plywood.
“I opened the door and there was this big piece of plywood,” Williams said. “I was wondering how I was going to get out.”
Mary Brooks, a tenant at the property, told WGN that it wasn't until Dec. 14 that she received a letter saying she needed to vacate the apartment by Dec. 29.
Many residents, including Brooks, are on Section 8 housing vouchers and fear they won't be able to find alternative accommodation quickly.
“With Section 8, there is a minimum grace period of 30 days and the selected apartment must be inspected,” Brooks told the news outlet. “You can't just jump up and move.”
said Genevieve Tyler, another tenant in the building. WMAQ-TV She said she had not received a notice to vacate the apartment and was shocked to see workers boarding up the premises.
The apartment building was boarded up at the request of the property owner, not the city, and no occupants were trapped inside, Ward 6 Alderman Tyrone Rogers told WGN.
“That's a complete exaggeration,” Rogers said. “No one is trapped in any of the apartments. I know for a fact. I spoke with the chief of police. No one is trapped in any of the apartments.”
“Once again, the City of Harvey would never do that. The City of Harvey has no right to do that,” he added.
The city said in a statement: “Contrary to recent claims, the city has not evicted anyone from these properties, but it is consulting with the property owners regarding the unsafe conditions in the buildings and will immediately correct the unsafe living conditions. “I told them that I needed to do it,” he said.
The property owner did not respond to requests for comment from WLS and WGN.
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