CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — A Champaign County apartment complex is condemned… and those living there are trying to figure out their next steps.
Champaign city officials said Champaign Park Apartments off Springfield Avenue are unfit for living.
Rob Kowalski, the Director of Neighborhood Services in Champaign, mentioned that none of the 29 buildings have water services, and numerous buildings lack utilities entirely. He noted that the proprietor has failed to comply with the city’s property regulations. Some structures have suffered fire damage, and others are without heating. Despite this, several residents continue to inhabit these buildings.
“It’s extremely frustrating. This situation clearly involves a non-resident property owner who has neglected the property and avoided taking accountability,” Kowalski stated.
The future of Champaign Park Apartments is uncertain. The complex comprises 29 buildings which house a total of 504 residences. Kowalski explained that over the last couple of years, the apartments have been facing condemnation due to the landlord’s actions.
“The owner actually is under a court order to secure the buildings and to provide rehousing for people in condemned units. And they haven’t fulfilled that obligation, even though it was a court order,” Kowalski said.
He said they haven’t been taking care of the property, and it’s come in the form of a lack of payments, and safety and maintenance issues. Swann Special Care Facility lives right behind the apartment complex. Executive Director Kym Halberstadt said it’s sad to hear but it was also time.
“They’re not mowing over there. They’re not upkeeping any of the buildings. The windows are all boarded up. I think there’s squatters over there and I think they’re actually cooking in there,” Halberstadt said. “We hear or smell smoke a lot over there, and it’s just not pleasant driving down the street.”
She’s been working with the company for more than 30 years. She said there was a time when it used to be a gorgeous complex but now it’s falling apart.
“It’s really sad. It used to be such a nice apartment complex. A lot of our staff lived there. They didn’t have cars. They could just walk across the parking lot,” Halberstadt said.
The city said they believe more than a dozen people are still living in the apartments and now their goal is to clear the property so it’s not causing a public safety hazard.
“There’s also, there’s no secret that there’s a shortage of housing options in the community, especially those at the affordable level,” Kowalski said. “So ideally, this property will be safe, it will be up to code and it will provide opportunities for people to live again. But it’s going to be a long process to get back to that point.”
WCIA reached out to the property owners on Monday but did not hear back. The Cunningham Township Director said they are looking for any landlords who can work with them and help find housing for the nearly 30 Champaign Park Households they’re working with.
