Lincoln Park High-Rise Will Have Emergency Repairs To Resolve Lack Of Hot Water

By Chuck Sudo in News on Jan 26, 2012 10:50PM

Management for a 14-story Lincoln Park high-rise have agreed to expedite repairs so that tenants will have hot water and heating service restored to them, but those services won't fully be restored until Monday.

Gas service was cut off to 2738 N. Pine Grove Ave. when an inspection found a clogged chimney, allowing dangerous levels of carbon monoxide into apartments in the building. A letter to the building's tenants suggested they buy electric heaters, boil water, or use their kitchen stoves to provide heat, as repairs could take weeks.

The suggestion to use stoves for heat and the property management's timetable for repairs sent the City into action. They went to court and asked a judge to appoint a receiver to facilitate repairs to the building. (We may be having a mild winter, but it's still cold outside.) Judge Daniel P. Malone ordered building management to install a temporary chimney until the permanent chimney could be repaired. The owners have also agreed to hire licensed fire guards to patrol the building on 24 hours a day until the temporary chimney is installed, have a property manager on site at all times, discuss safety procedures with tenants including not using their stoves to heat their apartments.