Neighbors demand action as derelict buildings threaten safety and pride
- The three-flat building in Wicker Park has been vacant and deteriorating for over four years, inciting community anger.
- In 2021, the Department of Buildings issued a stop work order after improper demolition occurred on the upper floors.
- Neighbors are concerned for their safety and demand action to resolve the blighted property issue.
In Chicago, a three-flat building on Milwaukee Avenue has remained vacant for over four years, leading to frustration among local residents. Despite initial plans for renovation approved by the Commission on Chicago Landmarks in 2020, the project stalled after a stop work order was issued in 2021 due to unsafe demolition activities on the upper floors. Residents like Derek Mullins, who owns a tattoo shop nearby, have expressed concerns over safety, citing the building as a hazard that encourages vandalism and trespassing. They have reported regular inspections revealing serious violations, while Mullins and his landlord recently filed a lawsuit calling for an emergency order to demolish the structure. With the building still in demolition court, residents have felt increasingly helpless as their neighborhood suffers and continues to deteriorate. Meanwhile, in Denver, a similar situation has unfolded where neighbors of a derelict home have been so frustrated that they resorted to