Unrepaired house irks residents

by CYRYL JAKUBOWSKI

Residents are concerned about a home at 5033 W. Winona St. which was severely damaged in a fire in November of 2012 and which remains unrepaired.

The owner of the building has received several citations dating back to November of that year, and the property has been in demolition court since February of 2013. Citations for code violations were issued several times in 2013 and 2014 for not maintaining the building in safe condition, failing to make repairs and not registering the building as vacant, according to the city Department of Buildings.

Alderman John Arena’s chief of staff Owen Brugh said that water to the property was cut off numerous times and that it was restored in July of last year after a payment was made but was cut off again in September.

"It looks likes the city is pushing to demolish the property," Brugh said. The hearing on the case on Monday, March 17, was continued to April 21.

The owner of the building was hospitalized with serious burns after the rear of the two-story wood frame house caught fire and sustained extensive damage, with most of the roof burned, according to the Chicago Fire Department. A house next door to the east also suffered damage to the second floor.

The man tried to reenter the burning home to rescue his dogs, according to the fire department. Firefighters removed about dozen dogs from the home, and paramedics used oxygen masks designed for animals to revive 10 of the animals, according to the department.