Tuesday, March 22, 2022

Early Morning Explosion Rocks Lawrence/DLSD Viaduct


Shortly after 7am, an explosion took place in the viaduct where Lawrence Avenue runs under DuSable Lake Shore Drive.

Heavy black smoke was seen pouring out of the viaduct, and there were (and are) concerns about the safety of the people experiencing homelessness who have set up tents in the viaduct.

We haven't heard any reports of injuries, thankfully.

Suspicions are that one or more propane tanks stored in the viaduct exploded, setting tents on fire.

We have seen propane tanks on both sides of Wilson and Lawrence and in the parks, and this is not the first propane fire. Storing tanks of highly explosive chemicals in the midst of people living in extremely flammable tents, directly underneath a heavily traveled U.S. highway and on the public sidewalk, seems like a very dangerous situation to us.

We will report more information as we learn more, and we continue to hope everyone in the vicinity of the explosion is okay.

20 comments:

  1. Alderman Cappleman is aware of the homeless use of propane tanks and has done nothing about it. These tanks can be seen at most tents so it isn't a surprise that this happened. I really hope no one was injured.

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    1. Chicago Dude, you're making a false assumption that could be easily cleared up by first asking me. What we have found all over the City of Chicago is that when the propane tanks are forcibly removed from an encampment site, word quickly gets out and people who mean well will donate more to replace them. I have personally spoken to people who were collecting funds to purchase more of these tanks and I reminded them about past explosions from these devices within the encampments. They tell me over and over again that this time the people in the tents promise to be more careful, and then it happens again. It doesn't matter what warnings they are given, people are not going to stop providing the propane tanks.

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    2. James, why have people been allowed to live under the viaducts and in our parks all Covid long.

      The homeless were removed in 2019 and those metal bars were put in place. That lasted for a few months. Now it's an unsafe tunnel of garbage and drug use. Residents ARE NOT SAFE walking on the sidewalk and are trapped between the metal bars and UNSTABLE homeless residents if the choose to walk on the sidewalk instead of the road. Did Covid result in taking away personal responsibility?

      ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

      Why aren't these issues in Lincoln Park!!

      Why aren't these issues in Lakeview!!

      WHY MUST UPTOWN SHOULDER THE BURDED OF THE ENTIRE NORTHSIDE? We have countless services and Uptown residents are subsiding new shelters such as Sarah's Circle. And they are building their what, THIRD facility. That is all fine.

      But what is NOT FINE, is allowing our public spaces to be ABUSED and now DESTROYED by the homeless.

      ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

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    3. Alderman Cappleman,

      Can you explain why these type of unsafe encampments are only allowed in your ward? Hopefully no one was injured, but imagine if this happened on a busy weekend while cars and pedestrians were under the bridge?

      As residents we are forced to walk through unsafe conditions in order to access the parks and lake front. This is entirely unacceptable and falls on you. I would have expected after the incident the other day that every encampment would have been immediately removed, yet they still remain.

      What level of catastrophe is going to happen before you protect your residents?

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    4. View this video where I asked the DFSS Commissioner many of your same questions. Afterwards, please contact my office so that we can have a real discussion about encampments (Ward46@cityofchicago.org).
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfVnDC7vb1c&t=4s

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    5. Alderman Cappleman,

      Thank you for that video. It definitely appears that you share the same concerns as us. My question is, how are some wards able to prevent this but Uptown is not? It seems like there is some sort of concentrated effort to allow this to exist in Uptown whereas it is does not exist in areas closer to the Loop or Lincoln Park.

      How are those areas able to keep there neighborhood safe and we are not? It seems like the police or someone is taking a more lax approach and that cannot just be coincidental.

      Do you believe that the city is not taking the same action in our area?

      Who are the people that we need to be reaching out to? Is it City level, state level or federal level? Perhaps if you let us in on who is creating this problem we can get to the bottom of it.

      I always had a bad feeling that one day something tragic would at the underpass, but I never expected it to be this dangerous. This really needs to be a wake up call for why we cannot continue to live in this conditions.

      So all that I ask is that you provide us with the tools to make the change.

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    6. There are 12 encampments across the City of Chicago, and the one in Uptown is the most visible, especially due to its location right off DuSable Lake Shore Drive. The interventions on the part of the Department of Family and Support Services for encampments are consistent across the City.... no area is favored over the other.

      Other cities across the country are experiencing the very same issues, and no city yet has come up with the perfect answer. COVID has taught us a lot and we're taking that info to do some interventions that sound very promising to me. Like many of you, I've been deeply discouraged in the past, but I see reasons for hope, with much of it due to the many experts who are all working together to forge some solutions. Having various departments and social services committed to working together rather than in silos has been half the battle. Stay tuned for the next 46th Ward newsletter that will provide more information about our efforts and how you can help.

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  2. He's been a disappointing alderman since I moved away years ago.

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  3. Add this to the myriad of reasons to remove these encampments. They are unsanitary, unhealthy, and dangerous. I suggest we build tiny homes in the area east of D-LSD where potable water is available, porta-johns could be better placed and maintained, and and general hygenics enforced.

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    1. The homeless from what I read don't want help. They don't want "decent" housing, bec. that housing comes with "rules". The homeless don't want to live by rules. They're building tiny homes in Seattle & LA, and I don't know why the city can't grab some vacant land on the south side and build tiny homes. It's simple to do. And I also wonder why the homeless choose the N'side vs. the S'side to house? I also wonder why there aren't fences put around those viaducts to keep the homeless from housing. It's simple. Just put some nets up and the runners/walkers will have a narrow sidewalk to walk on.

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  4. To have so little and then all your possessions are vaporized in a fire like that. Sad.

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    1. They did it themselves. A few years ago at Wilson, they hotwired the city's electrical panel and had over 12 extension cords strung together running from LSD down under the underpass. Talk about an electrical hazard during rain storms. When the city social service agencies visit them to render services each day, are they blind to these hazards or do they simply not care?

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  5. Ward46@cityofchicago.org
    ward48@cityofchicago.org

    These are the emails to reach the two alderman's for both areas that are getting effected in uptown by the tent estates. I have been e-mailing them since November 2021- and have been getting excuses and the run-a-round. I have sent pictures, raised safety concerns, and gave personal accounts on how this is hurting our area. Feel free to send your complains - because they have been aware of these propane tanks because I have raised the issue countless times.


    Just wait till someone gets seriously hurt were legal action will have to happen.

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    1. Can someone tell me why the homeless choose the N'side to be homeless vs. the S'side? We have plenty of vacant land on the S'side, just go for a visit. And you would think some of that "rescue" money would go toward building tiny villages like they do in LA&Seattle.

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  6. What if the overwhelming majority of 46th Ward residents would like the underpass encampments removed and prohibited? Same for the tents in Lakeshore Park, which signs say closes at 11pm - why are these tents permitted? I propose that a referendum be on the 2023 ballot. The 46th Ward should be run according to the majority of its residents' wishes rather than those of a small minority and outside organizations.

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  7. Mr. Pullman, if you manage to collect the signatures, you CAN put non-binding referenda on the ballot. I don't think that anyone called this comments section to order with a quorum, so I won't second your motion.

    When you DO get your petition together, perhaps hide your personal animosity, because my first impression is that you want a non-binding resolution against the poor, more so than one against poverty. Your mask is slipping.

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    1. You are posting anonymously and opt not to disclose your name. Thanks for the suggestions. I do wish for a resolution against the situation but am not the type to do the petition. Animosity has nothing to do with it.

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  8. I did post anonymously, and you picked up on that. You are astute, I will grant you that.

    I reiterate that your, "homeless shouldn't be in my eyeline" proposal lacks specifics on where the homeless may exist, and unless we are all apprised of when and where your neck might pivot, therein lies a conundrum.

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  9. I agree 100% with your reiteration. It is a conundrum. I am wary of well-intentioned efforts which will fail. The status quo is not good for anyone.

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