Emanuel proposed compiling the list and making it public in early January after the city took the owners of 20 properties — or 280 residential units — to an emergency heat hearing to force them to restore heat after several days of single-digit temperatures.
The inspiration for the list was a tragic fire in Roseland last September, when a blocked exit trapped four children inside their apartment building.
The new list is the direct result of an ordinance approved last week honoring Carliysia Clark, Carlvon Clark, Shamarion Coleman and Eri’ana Patton Smith, the children who died in the fire, the city said.
According to city building data, the Clark family’s building had failed more than 20 inspections since 2006. The most recent inspection, last June, found several broken doors, missing locks, leaks causing water damage, missing smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors and a broken third-floor kitchen door.
The building last passed inspection in February 2014, according to the website.
Making the list leaves landlords ineligible to buy city land, to get zoning changes, business licenses and any permits that don’t address building violations. In the worst cases, third parties will take over the unsatisfactory properties.
The list will be updated twice a year.
As for the Williams family, they just hope the list will lead to some improvements around their home.
“We been thinking about [moving], but money is tight,” Williams said. “It ain’t hard to leave this place. It’s hard find a new one.”
Article Appeared @http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20150127/wicker-park/problem-landlord-list-released