A City Council Committee convened a hearing pertaining to the proposed Vacant Property Maintenance Initiative. As discussed in the following articles in the Chicago Sun Times  and the Chicago Tribune the ordinance has now advanced out of committee amid strong industry and community concerns.

Council panel OKs tougher rules for vacant buildings

Owners would have to install security system, lighting

Mayor Daley's plan to require Chicago building owners to secure, maintain and light up their vacant buildings was advanced by a City Council committee today amid concern it would saddle building owners with expenses they cannot afford and trigger an avalanche of demolitions.

“To deal with the worst set of circumstances, we’re requiring that everyone spend the money to do it in every circumstance, even though it’s not necessary in every circumstance. I’m fearful this will lead to more demolitions, rather than more opportunities to use the properties,” said Ald. Helen Shiller (46th).

Ald. Ed Smith (28th) said a “whole lot of buildings” in his impoverished West Side ward are owned by senior citizens on fixed-incomes.

“What happens if they can’t afford an alarm system? Does the building get torn down? It may be a perfectly good building,” Smith said.

Ald. Walter Burnett (27th) added, “If a person is struggling, we’re setting these folks up to fail. And we’re setting ourselves up for coming into possession of a lot more buildings.”

Buildings Committee Chairman Bernard Stone (50th) said safety standards are needed to convince lenders City Hall “means business” about the need to maintain vacant buildings. Chicago already has 10,000 vacant buildings. The inventory is growing fast because of the foreclosure epidemic.

“There are buildings all over the city just sitting there wide open. Most of these lenders aren’t doing a damned thing. … If you go after the buildings, lenders have to fix ‘em up. Otherwise, they have no investment,” Stone said.

As for fears that Ma and Pa owners would be saddled with added costs, Stone said, “I’m not going after the two-flats and three-flats. I’m going after big buildings. You can be selective as to what you go after.”

The use of plywood to cover doors and windows would be strictly prohibited on buildings vacant for at least six months, under the ordinance, advanced by the Buildings Committee after a four-hour hearing.

A six-month vacancy would also trigger a requirement that buildings either be secured with steel panels or have all windows and doors installed, a functioning security system and an “active account” with a private security company. Dusk-to-dawn lighting would be required at all exits.

To view the online article from the Sun Times, please click here.    

Chicago committee recommends tighter limits on vacant buildings 

Fee to register vacant properties would increase from $100 a year to $250 every six months 

Despite the opposition of lenders and affordable-housing advocates, a Daley administration proposal to tighten standards for the city's growing number of vacant homes won the approval Monday of the City Council Buildings Committee.

The ordinance, to be considered June 11 by the full council, is backed by the Police and Fire Departments, whose representatives said it would keep vacant properties structurally sound and prevent them from becoming havens for gang members, drug dealers and users.

Lenders, however, said it would be a burden on mortgage companies. Housing advocates said it would deter rehabilitation.

Under the ordinance, the fee to register vacant properties would increase from $100 a year to $250 every six months.

To view the online article from the Tribune, please click here.

About Safeguard
Safeguard Properties is the largest privately held field services company in the country. Located in Cleveland, Ohio and founded in 1990 by Robert Klein, Safeguard has grown from a regional preservation company with a few employees and a handful of contractors performing services in the Midwest, to a national company with over 500 employees. Safeguard is supported by a nationwide network of subcontractors able to perform any requested superintendence, preservation, and maintenance functions, as well as numerous ancillary services in the U.S., the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.