As their Sept. 1 deadline to vacate came and passed, a handful of 44th Ward residents remaining in two closing single-room occupancy (SRO) hotels appeared to be losing hope.
Both The Sheffield House hotel, 3834 N. Sheffield Ave., and The Belair Hotel, 424 W. Diversey Pkwy., were sold in late July, displacing an estimated 350 people.
The Belair, served notice July 13 that the hotel would close Aug. 15. The Sheffield notified residents on July 28 and 29 that the premises had been "closed effective immediately for repairs" and that residents were to leave.
Residents protested the sudden closing, and attorneys argued that the notices were illegal because they had not been addressed directly to residents. While most residents vacated, both buildings remained effectively open as a result.
However, with fewer than 30 people remaining in each of the buildings, new 30-day notices to vacate issued by landlords and pressure mounting to leave, residents expressed fears that they would be displaced before they found new homes.
On Sept. 1, several remaining residents met at Lake View Lutheran Church with an attorney from the Legal Assistance Foundation to discuss their options.
"I'm at a loss of what to do anymore," said Brian White, who has lived in the Sheffield since April of last year.
White was homeless before he moved into his $880 room at the Sheffield. His next move, he said, would be to a co-worker's house where he had finally found a cheaper room.
However, not all residents in the two closing SROs see a way out. Some live in the buildings because they can't afford security deposits or because they have criminal records that prevent them from being approved for housing. A diminishing number of SROs exists to take them.
Others who are seniors or people with disabilities have applied for senior housing or other assistance programs, but such applications can sometimes take months to complete.
Both the buildings have reportedly been purchased by James Purcell, who owns other properties in the area.
In a recent statement, 44th Ward Ald. Tom Tunney assured the community that he had "a commitment from the new owner that no one will be forcefully evicted from either building."
Tunney's office met with a group of residents about concerns and has been working with residents and Lakeview Action Coalition to help residents transition out of the housing since July.
However, despite reported commitments to Tunney, one resident claimed he was served the first eviction notice Aug. 31.
Purcell's attorney, Carey Schiff, did not return calls in time for deadline.
Residents also complained that they were told in initial notices to stop paying rent at the Sheffield, only to be billed later for staying past the deadline.
"They ask the same rent but they cut back our services," said one man.
Room phone lines, wi-fi and pest control have allegedly ceased at the Sheffield. According to Elizabeth Rosenthal, attorney at the Legal Assistance Foundation, the phones had been turned off before the building changed hands. A courtesy phone was installed in the lobby by Diversey III, LLC, which has taken over the building, she said.
Residents who have yet to move out face what Tunney called "deplorable conditions" in both buildings. "The next step from the new owner is to rehab the properties to correct the numerous building and safety violations," Tunney said.
The Sheffield has a laundry list of building code violations and notice to vacate by October if they are not corrected.
"The place is literally crumbling around me," said White, adding that he can hear plaster inside the walls tumbling at night. White said the ceiling in his bathroom has started to cave as well.
Residents say they want Purcell to return their last month's rent so that it can be used as security deposits elsewhere. Purcell has no legal obligation to do so, and some residents appeared pessimistic about their dwindling options.
"It's a moot point," said one man. "It's too late."
However, Rosenthal said residents still might have options. Residents are debating those now.