CHICAGO (WLS) — For six months now, residents in a Logan Square building have been on a rent strike, as they battle a new owner’s plans to redevelop the property.
This week, they and others in the same situation are picketing the developer’s offices, but most of the residents have already moved out.
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Signs are posted on the windows of a Logan Square apartment building at Belden and Sawyer avenues. The tenants are among those fighting 33 Realty, the company that purchased the building late last year, and served them with non-renewal notices on Christmas Eve. The residents have since formed a tenant union.
“We’ve been trying to negotiate ways that we can keep paying rents that are affordable to us, but he’s not budging,” resident Sarah Rooney said.
Rooney was among those picketing outside 33 Realty’s River North offices this week. Joining her were tenants from two other company-owned buildings, located at Broadway and Cuyler Avenue in Uptown. They’ve taken their own battle to court, filing suit in their effort to stay in their homes at a rent they can afford.
“They ask for a lot of money, three times the rent. And the people don’t have the money,” Uptown resident Anay Herrera said.
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33 Realty Principal Drew Millard acknowledged getting off on the wrong foot with the Logan Square tenants, but he also said, “I’ve negotiated with 11 of the 16 tenants. I’ve forgiven a lot of back rent. I have provided moving assistance. I’ve provided lease extensions with barely any rent increase.”
He said they’ve also helped rehome most of the tenants, many of whom are Spanish-speaking, from the two Uptown buildings.
“The leasing agent is sending them listings, going and helping them talk and translate to help, actually take them to places,” Millard said.
Housing advocates say ultimately their fight is one against gentrification. Because despite the addition of affordable housing units in each the renovated buildings, most will be out of reach for the remaining existing tenants.
“We’re prioritizing business interest over the right for people to live in a home, and be in a place for their life and raise a family there,” said Maya Odendahl, with All-Chicago Tenant Alliance. “We’re trying to make it unprofitable for landlords to do what they’re doing to families.”
The first of the resident lawsuits against 33 Realty goes to court on Thursday. The remaining residents in Logan Square have until Oct. 31 to leave.
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