Owners of Evergreen Terrace Apartment Complex File Appeal With the United States Supreme Court Follo
Joliet, IL. —For the past eleven years, owners of the Evergreen Terrace apartment complex, New West/New Bluff LP, a Chicago-based construction company, have been engaged in a lawsuit to maintain custody of Evergreen Terrace.
However, in September of 2014, custody was turned to the City of Joliet.
Following this verdict, New West/New Bluff LP filed an appeal with the Supreme Court on October 11, 2016.
According to mysuburbanlife.com, the City of Joliet filed the lawsuit against Evergreen Terrace in 2005, in an attempt to condemn the property after years of New West/New Bluff failing to meet health, safety and security violations.
The appeal claims that the city’s purchase of Evergreen Terrace will leave residents of the section-8 housing complex—a classification for moderate and low-income housing—without residence.
This concern was raised further following a survey that 67% of Joliet residents—400 were polled—preferred that Evergreen Terrace be demolished, according to the Joliet Patch.
However, at a Joliet City Council meeting on August 18, 2016, Joliet mayor, Bob O’Dekirk, said that Evergreen Terrace would be maintained and would not be demolished.
“Until a viable plan is brought forward, that’s where the city is heading […],” O’Dekirk said.
The complex, located on 350 N. Broadway Street, houses 356 units.
Since the lawsuit began, mysuburbanlife.com reports that Evergreen Terrace has continually failed inspections done by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
In 2005, a HUD inspection found mold as well as a German cockroach and Norwegian rat infestation.
A 2012 inspection of the property completed by HUD found health and safety violations that included plumbing and electrical problems.
Judge Charles Norgle, ruling in favor of the City of Joliet on September 18, 2014 saying, “The court finds that the property was not decent, safe, sanitary or in good repair following $5 million in repairs and renovations.”
As part of the ruling the Joliet Patch reported that the City of Joliet, was required to pay the $15 million dollar evaluation that the court conducted on the property.
