City of Aurora officials hopeful residents should be able to return home soon after building exterior crumbles on E. Galena Blvd.
Share this @internewscast.com

AURORA, Ill. (WLS) — Some Aurora residents are still displaced, after bricks fell off their apartment building this weekend.

In Aurora, the westbound traffic lanes on Galena Boulevard between Broadway and La Salle Street continue to be closed, although city authorities describe this as merely a precaution.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

The facade of the building requires repairs, but the overall structure is stable. Consequently, displaced residents and businesses from Saturday night are likely to return within the next couple of days.

It’s been two days since the facade of 100 E. Galena Blvd. in downtown Aurora began to crumble, leading to a hasty evacuation.

“I notified the landlord, prompting him to inform everyone in the building. He reached out to the tenants, saying that if they were indoors, we need to evacuate them,” witness Lorenzo Johnson said.

Since then, city officials have been hard at work, determining the structural integrity of the building.

The property owner has been ensuring the 15 residents have accommodations while arranging a rear entrance for their return. Meanwhile, two businesses, a barbershop and a record store, are still closed.

“Residents were promptly and voluntarily relocated to hotels due to inconvenience and displacement. This procedure aligns with our ordinance requirements, mandating relocations when a building becomes unsafe for occupancy,” stated Aurora Director of Development Services, Josh Ream.

Ream mentioned that similar issues, though to a lesser degree, are affecting other downtown buildings, citing age and outdated construction codes as contributing factors. He thankfully noted that no injuries occurred on Saturday, with facade repairs being the only necessary fix.

“As soon as the scaffolding is back up, they should be able to reopen. So, I’m hoping within 48 hours, shouldn’t be later than end of the week,” Ream said.

Officials said the building had a similar issue on its western facade when it was under different ownership.

But, they said that it was repaired, and the current owner, who is out of town, has been quick to fix any issues that have come up during their annual inspections.

Copyright © 2025 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Death toll from Colombia bus bombing rises to 20 during wave of violence

Colombia Bus Bombing Death Toll Climbs to 20 Amid Surge in Violence

The death toll from a bombing in the tumultuous southwest region of…
Illegal migrant accused of NY dumpster rape captured on Texas bus as he fled toward southern border: DA

Texas Authorities Capture Suspected NY Dumpster Rapist Fleeing to Southern Border

Illegal immigrant accused of groping high school girls in Virginia sparks outrage…
Chicago officer killed at hospital by suspect who was free on pretrial release, prosecutors allege

Suspect on Pretrial Release Allegedly Kills Chicago Officer at Hospital, Say Prosecutors

A man already on pretrial release for a different criminal matter allegedly…
Swedish Hospital shooting: Memorial grows for slain Chicago Police Officer John Bartholomew, another officer in critical condition

Chicago Mourns: Memorial Honors Fallen Officer John Bartholomew Amid Swedish Hospital Shooting Tragedy

CHICAGO — A heartfelt tribute is growing in memory of Chicago Police…
Manner of death revealed for passenger who plunged 50 feet at Indianapolis airport

Tragic Fall at Indianapolis Airport: Details Unveiled on Passenger’s Mysterious Death

A tragic incident unfolded at the Indianapolis airport over the weekend, as…
Nancy Guthrie's front door blood evidence points to ‘single abductor’: former FBI profiler

Blood Evidence at Nancy Guthrie’s Home Suggests Lone Abductor, Says Former FBI Profiler

GRAPHIC CONTENT WARNING A troubling scene on Nancy Guthrie’s front porch indicates…
Putin puts on huge smile as he greets Iran's foreign minister — and vows to 'serve' Tehran's interests

Putin’s Warm Welcome: A Pledge to Champion Tehran’s Interests with Iran’s Foreign Minister

In a display of diplomatic warmth, Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed Iran’s…
Iran on brink of 'irreversible' damage to oil fields as storage runs out

Iran Faces Potentially Permanent Damage to Oil Fields Amidst Storage Capacity Crisis

Iran is facing a pressing dilemma as its oil storage capabilities dwindle,…
Magnitude 6.2 earthquake shakes part of northern Japan

Powerful 6.2 Earthquake Jolts Northern Japan

In the early hours of Monday, northern Japan experienced a significant tremor…
Pope Leo urges Africans to stay and 'serve your country' instead of migrating as displacement climbs

Pope Leo’s Powerful Message: Encouraging Africans to Thrive at Home Amid Rising Migration Challenges

Pope Leo XIV made a heartfelt appeal to the youth of Africa…
Patricia Heaton urges 'friends on the left' to tone down extreme rhetoric after WHCD shooting

Patricia Heaton Calls for Calmer Discourse After White House Correspondents’ Dinner Shooting Incident

In the wake of the unsettling incident at the White House Correspondents’…
Inside the rocking DC afterparty following WHCD shooting

Exclusive: Inside the Electrifying DC Afterparty That Followed the WHCD Shooting Incident

WASHINGTON — In a show of resilience, attendees of the White House…