Community demands action on problem buildings on Sheridan Road in Rogers Park
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Drug overdoses, gang violence, a fire, and even a murder have befallen one specific apartment complex in Rogers Park – so what's next?
Neighbors on Thursday night demanded a fix for the problem apartment complex that has plagued their community for decades. City leaders say at issue is landlords who have a history of neglecting properties across the area.
But as CBS 2's Marissa Perlman reported, solving the problem is complicated.
"It's difficult to do something," was the choice of words from Ald. Maria Hadden (49th) in regard to the two-building apartment complex at 7650-7654 N. Sheridan Rd. – just north of the intersection with Rogers Avenue – and its problem landlords.
Hadden said those landlords will be held accountable – but they won't be kicked out of the neighborhood anytime soon.
The midcentury brick buildings stand next to the now-vacant Biddy Mulligan's blues and rock club, and a throng of drivers passes them every day traveling into the city limits from Evanston.
But CBS 2 Investigator Megan Hickey reported this week on what neighbors complain goes on in the complex.
Residents who live next to the complex have come home to overdose victims lying unresponsive, countless domestic violence issues, and a baby in a stroller - unattended.
David Rill – who lives next to the complex – talked about seeing bodies lying on the property.
"I walk in from work and there's a body just there," Rill said at the community meeting at the Willye B. White Community Center, 1610 W. Howard St.
Rill described being there watching and taking video while one of the buildings was on fire in August of last year. It became engulfed in raging flames that quickly spread – creating an even more dangerous situation.
"I'm in my house and I'm watching the flames, like, come onto my porch," Rill said.
On Thursday night, there was a call for accountability. Rill was just one in the crowded room for the community meeting – challenging Ald. Haddden and the Rogers Park (24th) District police.
"What do we have to do at this point?" a man said. "This has been going on for years."
There have been three deaths at the complex in the two years. Two were overdose victims, while the third was the victim of a murder.
On Tuesday, March 21, 45-year-old Quentin Pruett – who grew up in the neighborhood – was visiting family and friends in Chicago from his home in Green Bay, Wisconsin. He was shot in the head and killed in a unit in the complex, in what his family says might have been a case of mistaken identity.
Pruett's cousin showed to the community meeting up to hear solutions.
"It's devastating for our family, and we're going to do everything we can to advocate for justice – and do something about that building," Pruett's cousin said.
Ald. Hadden said the property is going through its second round of enforcement procedures; the last one was in 2018.
The city is now demanding the landlords, father and son Sargon and Peter Isaac, make permanent changes.
Hadden said the problem here is not with the system.
"No, it's the person doing the thing that's wrong," Hadden said. "Make no mistake – the thing that wrong here, the gentlemen who own this property who are not doing what they need to do on an ethical level, right? And to city codes."
Hadden said as part of the legal process with the city, the Isaacs will be required to install Office of Emergency Management and Communication security cameras tied to the local 911 center, have onsite security and management, and get rid of month-to-month leases.
But she says city enforcement is challenging.
"What that usually equates to is a long process," Hadden said.
The property owners will have to reach an agreement with the city about what changes they will make about the building by their next status hearing – which is in May.
