Illinois apartment boarded up with tenants still inside, residents claim

Some tenants residing in an Illinois apartment building claimed that they were trapped inside their units after the condemned property was abruptly boarded up on Friday, WLS-TV reported.

An apartment complex in Harvey, a south suburb of Chicago, was recently boarded up after the city deemed the property uninhabitable, citing unsafe living conditions. The complex has also reportedly become an epicenter for criminal activity.

In late August, the city's building inspection found structural concerns, WGN-TV reported. A follow-up inspection in December revealed imminent safety risks, including extensive deterioration of balconies and stair risers, city officials told the news outlet.

James Williams, whose 73-year-old mother lived in the building, told WLS that he "fell through the stairs."

According to the city, the owner of the building received notice to vacate the property by October 28, 2023. The City of Harvey also stated that it was the owner's responsibility to inform tenants that they would need to move out by the specified date.

On Friday, a crew arrived at the apartment and began boarding up the units, videos posted on social media revealed.

Rudolph Williams, a tenant, told WLS that he was still inside his apartment when crews boarded up his unit with plywood.

"I opened the door, and here's this big piece of plywood right there," Williams said, stating that he was "wondering how I was going to get out."

Mary Brooks, a tenant of the property, told WGN that she only received a letter on December 14 notifying her that she needed to leave her apartment by December 29.

Many residents, including Brooks, are on Section 8 housing vouchers and fear they cannot quickly find alternative accommodations.

"On Section 8, there is a 30-day minimum window, and the apartment you choose has to be inspected," Brooks told the news outlet. "I can't just jump up and move."

Another one of the building's tenants, Genevieve Tyler, told WMAQ-TV that she did not receive a notice to move out of the apartment and was shocked to find workers boarding up the property.

The apartment building was boarded up at the property owner's request, not the city's, and no tenants were trapped inside, Tyrone Rogers, 6th Ward Alderman, told WGN.

"That's a total exaggeration," Rogers stated. "Nobody's been boarded up inside any of the apartments. I know for a fact. I spoke with the police chief. Nobody has been boarded up inside any apartment."

"I repeat: The City of Harvey would never do that. The City of Harvey does not have the right to do that," he added.

In a statement, the city said, "Contrary to recent claims, the city did not evict anyone from these properties but has communicated with the property owners regarding the unsafe conditions of the buildings and need to immediately rectify the dangerous living conditions."

The property owner has not responded to requests for comment from WLS and WGN.

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