Residents of an apartment building in south suburban Harvey, Illinois are seeking answers and demanding justice after multiple units were allegedly boarded up, leaving tenants trapped inside. The incident has sparked outrage and concern among the community, prompting calls for accountability from the property owners and city officials.
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According to community activist Andrew Holmes, at least four people, including a mother and her two children, were inside their apartments when the boarding up occurred. Genevieve Tyler, a resident of the building, recounted hearing workers nailing pieces of wood to windows and doors without any prior notice. The lack of communication and sudden action left residents feeling distressed and helpless. Videos posted on social media by several individuals claimed that residents were indeed trapped inside their boarded-up apartments. Rudolph Williams, one of the affected residents, discovered the situation when his nephew called and alerted him to the boarded-up entrance: “My nephew called me… and said, ‘You’re boarded up here?’ I said, ‘What?’ I opened the door and that’s when I saw there was a board right there. I looked at the window, same thing.”
Mary Brooks, another tenant, received a letter advising evacuation but questioned its legitimacy due to her financial constraints.City officials acknowledged ongoing issues related to unsafe conditions at two buildings, specifically 14445 and 14437 Halsted, since the previous fall. City officials stated that the property owners were informed of the mandatory evacuation deadline of October 28. In mid-December, the city’s Building Department determined that both buildings posed an imminent safety risk due to extensive deterioration of balconies and stair risers as reported by NBC Chicago.
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The boarding sparked outrage on social media as there were residents who were elderly citizens or had children. One user on X wrote, “I have so many questions, was the landlord still making them pay rent, is the building in foreclosure, did the tenants know they were about to board up the apartments, did the city of Harvey give ample notice?? I have so many questions!”
The alleged incident of trapping residents inside boarded-up apartments in Harvey has sparked outrage and concern among the community. The lack of communication, empathy, and accountability from the property owners has left residents feeling distressed and abandoned. It is crucial for the property owners and city officials to address the situation promptly, ensuring the well-being and safety of the affected residents. The community stands united in demanding justice and answers for those who have been trapped in their own homes.