Illinois apartment tenants said they were trapped inside units after property was boarded up

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Illinois apartment tenants said they were trapped inside units after property was boarded up

Harvey, Illinois residents living in an apartment building were trapped inside their units after their doors and windows were closed, according to reports.

FOX 32 in Chicago reported that several residents of the apartment complex, located on S. Halsted Street, were trapped inside, and when the video went viral on social media, some people raised concerns.

One resident, Rudolph Williams, said he was trapped inside one of the units and told the station he “didn’t hear anyone knocking on the door” Friday morning before the door was installed.

Photos of more than 30 units that have now been installed show non-occupancy orders.

Residents at the development told the station there were at least five families still inside their apartments with their belongings.

“Contrary to recent allegations, the city has not evicted anyone from this property but has communicated with the property owner regarding the building’s unsafe condition and the need to immediately correct the dangerous living conditions,” city officials said in a Facebook post.

A resident who lives in an apartment complex on S. Halsted Street said they “didn’t hear anyone knocking on the door” before the doors were installed. fox32chicago

The City of Harvey posted several photos of the apartment complex on social media showing the deplorable living conditions and major structural concerns.

Some of the photos show cracked concrete and rusted holes in the stairs leading to the second floor, personal belongings stored inside the stairs, piles of trash left on the property grounds and overflowing trash cans.

In October 2023, the City of Harvey launched a comprehensive investigation of the property, along with discussions with the property owners, Jay Patel and Henry Cho, regarding the structural issues and the crumbling steps.

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Residents living in the development claim there are at least five families still in the apartments. fox32chicago

The city also fielded numerous 911 calls for illegal acts occurring on the property.

Two months earlier, the city held a meeting and recommended the property owner hire a structural engineer to assess the damage. The city’s building department gave two weeks to hire contractors and urged property owners to build temporary structures to block the stairs.

The city said it also emphasized to owners the need to vacate buildings for safety reasons as construction is underway, giving owners an extension until the end of October for residents to arrange for other housing.

The City of Harvey posted several photos of the apartment complex on social media showing the deplorable living conditions. fox32chicago

City officials said in the post that the property owner was told the building’s structural integrity had exceeded its lifespan, and that the building needed to be moved by Oct. 28.

“The responsibility to communicate this information to tenants is also emphasized,” the city said.

Multiple appraisals on the property took place between Oct. 28. and Dec. 14, in which the city’s building department determined two buildings on the property posed a “definite safety risk,” primarily due to deteriorating balconies and stairs.

Later on Friday, the city added, the property owner boarded both buildings as city police conducted inspections and health checks.

Fox News Digital reached out to Mayor Christopher J. Clark for comment but did not immediately hear back.

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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/