Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Lawrence House Fire: No Fire Alarms

A resident was critically burned in a fire at Lawrence House (1020 W Lawrence) today.  Lorraine Swanson of Lake Effect News was there and broke the story that residents told her:  no working fire alarms in this residence, which houses the disabled and the elderly.  Unconscionable!

19 comments:

  1. That is what happens when the alderman stops the Corporation Counsel's office from enforcing fire codes.... oops...did I just say that out loud???

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  2. I hope the media obtains copies of the inspection records for this place. About a year ago, Aldeman Tunney successfully fought to shut down the Diplomat Hotel SRO because the owner (Jack Gore, who owns at least one SRO in the 46th ward) refused to bring it up to code. So an Alderman can make a difference if inclined to do so.

    And if Shiller was shielding this place from enforcement, that man's injuries are on her head. So tell me again how it is she cares about the disadvantaged?

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  3. Cue Denise: "This ain't your college dorm room sweetie."

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  4. I am not saying the alderperson did that with this particular place.

    It has happened in the past. I've been out of it for awhile.

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  5. correct me if I'm wrong...but isn't this building in Alderman Smiths ward? The ward is divided down the middle of Lawrence.

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  6. pozone, I was wondering the same.

    Feel free to check my work; but the City's website says 1020 W Lawrence is 46th.

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  7. Heh ... my bad.

    Clerk's site is here.

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  8. Doah...pozone...

    You got me. I am wrong.

    I retract my shot at the alderman.

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  9. I've never understood how the Lawrence House, LLC has ended up being Uptown's #1 highest paying taxpayer. To view it for yourself go to Chicago Block Shopper and search taxes by zipcode 60640. They pay twice as much real estate taxes (over $76,000 per year) as the next highest taxpayer.

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  10. Where are people getting the data that says that the Lawrence House operates as an SRO? I don't have that in my records and it does not appear in the City of Chicago Dept of Revenue's license lookup as an SRO at either a Kenmore Street or Lawrence Avenue address.

    I know that in the past 5 months ONE has been having protest marches in front of the Lawrence House and working with Shiller get TIF funds allocated to renovate this huge highrise building into permanent low income housing, perhaps even as a low income coop. Yet, it was my understanding that the owner who purchased it in a bank sale for $881,000 in 2000 was also the owner of the upscale Green Dolphin and not a low income housing developer.

    This is a very timely fire in many respects.

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  11. First, I can understand why some buildings don't have sprinkler systems. The cost of retrofitting is astronomical. Almost as bad as building low income housing at Wilson Yard dollar wise.

    Second, an alarm system is relatively inexpensive.

    The city needs to find out what went wrong here and Lawrence House needs to correct the problem immediately.

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  12. Truthbearer.. I work in the Lawrence House and no it is not a SRO. It was once a retirement home that now houses a lot on single adults. There has also been NO protest marches in front of the building. The owners do also own the Green Dolphin and many other residential properties in the Uptown and Rogers Park areas. And as far as the buying price of the building and another 0 to it. I would of bought it if it only costed 800,000. Please check your facts before you post comments.

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  13. Truth - I think that you're reading into usually pc's comment a little deeply. He mentioned issues with an SRO and code issues. I think he was implying that there could be political influence on code corrections, not that lawrence house is an SRO.

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  14. Thanks Seabourne- that was my point, and I didn't mean to imply that Lawrence House was an SRO. But if the owner of Lawrence House does own the Green Dolphin and other properties, what is his excuse for not having working fire alarms? And how long has the building been in violation of the codes?

    As an aside, if Lawrence House were in Mary Ann Smith's ward, why would Helen and Denise, who can't show their faces when people are shot on their front steps, rush to the scene within minutes of the fire to investigate? Too much time on their hands?

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  15. Maria - I was unaware that Lawrence House "used to be" a retirement home. I thought it still was; there seem to be quite a few elderly people in wheelchairs outside when I drive by. When did younger people become eligible to rent apartments there?

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  16. Maria, Truthbearer gets statements from others in the community. If those statements are false, then hold the person who are making those statements accountable. Don't shoot the messenger who reports it.

    The protest march info came direct from the ONE website, where ONE described its meetings with the Lawrence House owner and posted interior photos of your building. It was one of the apartment buildings that THEY CLAIM to have protested in the ONE/Ezra Multi ervices Center 11/17/2009 March and Rally for affordable housing. Here is the link to the Rally announcement, which is still remains on their site:

    http://tinyurl.com/ylzngc8
    and the Jan 22, 2010 post at
    http://www.onechicago.org/news

    The price paid for the building came from the Chicago Block Shopper website, which tracks all property sales. In the prior post I questioned the tax rate that Lawrence House pays, as reflected on their site. I say it is fair to question their purchase price too. But complain to them, not me. Here is the link to their website which shows the info you say is incorrect:
    http://tinyurl.com/yjgrvjz

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  17. This building was for sale about a year or two ago. Anyone know if it still is? There was an article in Crains about it. With the market the way it is, it will probably sit.

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  18. According to this Crain's article from Sept.14, 2007:

    "A large, Art Deco apartment building in a reviving area of Uptown is on the market, with a price tag of $19 million...

    ...The majority of the Lawrence House tenants are 55 or older, though the property is not a licensed or restricted senior housing facility...

    ...Lawrence House was purchased in 2000 for about $9 million, according to Mr. Kiser and property records."

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  19. Thanks for the Crains info. I've been in the Lawrence House visiting seniors many times. The residents I knew were very happy there. I hope this beautiful, historic Uptown building gets its woes taken care of quickly so that it remains an architectural asset to our community. I'd hate to see it chopped up and stripped of its detail like the Sommerset.

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