Evanston officials ordered the 23 residents of an apartment building at 125-127 Callan St., 11 of whom are children, to vacate their homes by April 16, citing concerns about their health and safety .
“We don’t know where we’re going to go,” said Ed Spivery, a resident of 125 Callan St. “We got to find some shelter somewhere.”
Spivery’s apartment houses six, including three children. He said the orders delivered by police Tuesday came “real sudden.”
Those vacated occupied eight of the nine apartments available in the building. The city will grant a $750 housing voucher for each of the vacated units.
The building was officially closed Friday after gas to the site was shut off because the landlord failed to pay an outstanding $18,000 bill, said James Wolinski, chairman of the Planning and Development Committee. But even though the building was closed, residents chose to stay put.
The decision to empty the building came only after inspectors learned that the site’s landlord was still demanding rent from the tenants, despite this being illegal since the building was closed. The city plans to shut off water to the building Monday because of delinquent payment of a $6,000 bill.
The action taken against the landlord corresponds with strong concerns raised by Ald. Ann Rainey (8th) at Tuesday’s City Council meeting about the need for an enforceable landlord licensing ordinance.
Rainey urged that the council regulate the apartments a landlord can rent.
“Overlook the cries of the respectable landlords in this town, because licensing will not affect them in any way,” Rainey said.
Current law only allows the council to provide civil remedies and mediate disputes, said Paula Haynes, executive director of the Human Relations Commission.
Haynes said building inspectors found holes in the ceiling, traces of vomit and rat boroughs in the outside of the building.
“It’s tragic to see people living in these conditions,” Haynes said.
The apartments at 125-127 Callan St. are owned and managed by the Rev. Walter Armstrong. His properties sometimes are operated in conjunction with Willie Battle, and also under the name B&D Real Estate Management.
Armstrong could not be reached for comment on Wednesday.
Haynes and Wolinski were critical of Armstrong’s abilities as a landlord in regards to both the recently vacated site and other sites he manages in Evanston.
“He has a reputation that precedes him,” Haynes said. “Every property he owns we have had problems with.”
Citing the building’s poor condition, Haynes said her office urged residents not to pay rent to Armstrong. But Haynes said she was “shocked” to see how many residents continued to pay.
“They are so intimidated, they wouldn’t exercise a right they have,” Haynes said.
Ald. Gene Feldman (9th) also spoke against the landlord, supporting Rainey’s cause before the council.
‘There’s nothing we’re doing that’s working,” Feldman said. “It’s cruel and unusual punishment to let people live that way.”
Feldman asked the council to take action on the landlord license.
“There is very little left in our bag of tricks, and people are suffering,” Feldman said.
Wolinski said though he could not remember having to vacate one of Armstrong’s buildings before, he had met Armstrong in court “numerous times” over similar concerns.
