Comments on: Problem of Vacant Houses Resists Easy Solution

By: Shelia Bradley-Smith

Shelia Bradley-Smith — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 23:05:32 +0000

Please remember that Tionda and Diamond Bradley are still missing. Please make sure you check out abandoned properties before demolishing them.

By: Nicole

Nicole — Mon, 10 May 2010 17:43:50 +0000

If you lived next door to an abandoned building, you’d want it torn down. How can the city maintain it? THEM? There’s far too many and no one to be on site to attend to security matters. When you call the cops to report illegal activity in an abandoned building next store, no charges can be filed. You have to be the owner of the property to press charges. I guess it may work if you live in a super good neighborhood where crime is a stranger.

By: AAV

AAV — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 03:13:42 +0000

My suggestion is for the reader to learn the names of Chicago neighborhoods on their own! Chicago residetns should know these things. Good day!

By: Logan

Logan — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 17:44:16 +0000

Now, to address the subject at hand. I am at a loss to understand why more hurriedly demolishing these properties is such a great thing. Vacant lots are not desirable. — CATCHING these properties early on, before they become a detriment to the community, restoring them to viability and preserving the cohesiveness (architecturally and socially) of a neighborhood, is far more beneficial to everyone. — Put the responsibility on the local alderman and the City, once the neighbors have informed the City of the problem. It takes MINUTES to determine the titleholder of most properties, and a few days in all but the most extreme cases. If the owner of a vacant property cannot maintain it, the City has any number of avenues available to either secure it, maintain it, obtain ownership of it, or pressure the local or State governing bodies to enact laws ensuring these processes are expedited. — If I lived next door to an abandoned building, I’d prefer to see it returned to use and returned to the tax rolls than being flattened, only to ultimately draw abandoned vehicles and debris. And, if ‘lucky’, we’ll find some new, totally out-of-context box built next to our properties. — Seriously, the excitement of watching one hours’ worth of demo isn’t worth it. I’d prefer to see an article about some effective and time-sensitive alternatives to flattening these buildings.

By: Logan

Logan — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 17:27:55 +0000

Eugene, For those who know the neighborhood names, that might be fine, but the job of a newsman (and his product) is to inform, not to make the reader guess. A simple directional clue would not be inconvenient for the writer to supply to the reader, who, incidentally, may not be as well-versed as you in the names of various Chicago neighborhoods.

By: Nicholas

Nicholas — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 15:19:45 +0000

Finally some quality and relevant reporting on this site. I’ve been waiting and suffering with too many of Jim Warren’s missive on the futility of hoping for anything against “The Chicago Way” (a theme that I and most people I know are very tired of). I live near Avondale, and I see many abandoned buildings that are going to be trouble– soon. I’d like a bit more info on what the City plans to do about it. While I understand they need to find out who exactly owns the title to such properties, I think more needs to be done so that dangerous buildings can be demolished quickly. Clearly the “owners” of these properties have given up, so why isn’t more done to expedite the process?

By: Eugene

Eugene — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 03:24:28 +0000

He named the nieghborhoods. It’s not rocket science.

By: Dan

Dan — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 18:32:16 +0000

How does a veteran Chicago newsman not use the N (or S or E or W) designation in a street address?