Politically protected gentrification in Chicago

Latest

Organizers of a rent strike at a Chicago apartment building. Owners want to drive low-income tenants out and convert to high-rent apartments. PHOTO/JOSEPH CARILLO
Organizers of a rent strike at a Chicago apartment building. Owners want to drive low-income tenants out and convert to high-rent apartments.
PHOTO/JOSEPH CARILLO

 
CHICAGO, IL — One-year ago, gentrification developer, Brehon Capital LLC, Paul Callero and Scott Holloway, purchased a 12-unit building at 1606-10 N. Harding Ave. in Chicago’s Humboldt Park neighborhood. As months progressed, the low-income tenants noticed the new owners were intentionally ignoring their concerns regarding a front building entrance door that continuously locked tenants inside the building’s entrance vestibule, and simultaneously allowed strangers to enter the premises without a key.
Other tenant concerns and requests are: holes in apartment floors; roach infestation through-out the building; rat infestation; strangers entering premises at all hours of the day; used syringes littered in the backyard area; no keys issued to tenants for rear building exit doors; abandoned ground floor unit being used by strangers; non-functioning smoke detectors; no smoke detectors; unattended garbage dumpster and garbage area; unattended building security; electrical short in senior tenant unit light-switch; exposed electrical wiring in exterior and interior of the building. All the tenant complaints and requests for repairs have been met with hollow promises. No true repairs are ever made.
The owners’ tactic is to allow the property to deteriorate until the low-income tenants eventually move out or their units can’t pass government inspection for Section Eight housing. This would allow Callero and Holloway to convert their building to high-income units.
On August 9, 2016, Paul Callero illegally dumped the contents of an evicted tenants’ unit into the alley behind Youth Service Project Inc., and Walgreens.  Alderman Roberto Maldonado was immediately notified of this illegal act. Despite notifying the alderman and the seriousness of the tenant’s deplorable living conditions, a check on the official website for the City of Chicago’s Department of Buildings shows no record of any inspectors at the 1606-10 N. Harding Avenue property in years, nor any record of any illegal dumping citations ever recorded.
On August 1, a rent-strike was called by Migdalia Torres, 69. “We Are Logan Square” organized Torres and other tenants of 1606-10 N. Harding, on how to legally stand-up for their tenant rights. As a direct result of this training, Brehon Capital LLC, Paul Callero and Scott Holloway, immediately negotiated with Torres in order to avoid legal tenant maneuvers that would cost them financially. On August 20, Brehon Capital LLC agreed to reimburse an unspecified amount of Torres’ previous rent payments made over the last year.
But nothing has changed for the remaining tenants. On September 9, a ceiling collapse severely injuring tenant, Carla Calicut, age 45, as she slept on her living room sofa.

+ Articles by this author

Free to republish but please credit the People's Tribune. Visit us at www.peoplestribune.org, email peoplestribune@gmail.com, or call 773-486-3551.

The People’s Tribune brings you articles written by individuals or organizations, along with our own reporting. Bylined articles reflect the views of the authors. Unsigned articles reflect the views of the editorial board. Please credit the source when sharing: ©2024 peoplestribune.org. Please donate to help us keep bringing you voices of the movement. Click here. We’re all volunteer, no paid staff.

1 COMMENT

  1. This building is still in the same dangerous conditions as two-years ago. Can anyone get a real Building Inspector in there? Alderman Roberto Maldonado is connected to the owners through real-estste business and he will not issue them any citatikns.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Featured

Pregnant Teen Died: Seeks Care in Three Texas Emergency Rooms

Nevaeh Crain cried in pain, too weak to walk, blood staining her thighs. Vomiting and feverish at her baby shower, the teen went to two different emergency rooms, returning home, worse than before. Pregnant women have become untouchables.

No, Immigration Is Not Making Housing Less Affordable

Despite politicians' claims to the contrary, immigration is not making housing unaffordable. In fact, immigration can be part of the solution.

Make Your Vote Count 

This 2024 election is gaining on us and the pressure to get to the ballot box is intense and...

Michigan’s Prescient Lesson: Vote While You Still Can!!! 

Michigan's non-elected Emergency Manager dictatorship made Flint's water crisis possible. Pay attention to the danger of losing our Democratic rights as we’ve known them in this election. Vote while you still can!

US Doctors Tell Biden, Harris They ‘Witnessed Crimes Beyond Comprehension’ in Gaza

US doctors who visited Gaza tell Biden, Harris they've never seen such horrific injuries, on such a massive scale, with so few resources, that our bombs are cutting down women and children, and that a ceasefire must be imposed.

More from the People's Tribune