City Seeks Receiver To Take Over Woodlawn Apartments

Allegations of wretched living conditions at a Woodlawn apartment complex have prompted Chicago attorneys to seek a third-party manager to take over the property.

In September, the city sued an LLC with ties to 312 Property Management, citing 41 code violations found at 6610-18 South Kenwood Avenue, including electrical issues, mold, rats, roaches and missing smoke detectors, Block Club reported. The plaintiffs are seeking a $20,500 fine for each day that the violations remain unresolved.

The LLC, which is run by Raphael Lowenstein and Ari Lowenstein, acquired the apartment complex in 2019.

As part of the lawsuit, the city attorneys filed a petition on Oct. 26, asking for a court-appointed receiver to take over management of the site, contending that the landlords have failed to address the unsafe conditions. Tenants who organized and withheld rent in protest of the conditions hope that the lawsuit and receivership petition will lead to necessary repairs and halt ongoing eviction attempts.

During a recent hearing, Cook County Judge Leonard Murray did not make a decision on the receivership request but promised to consider the tenants’ situation. City inspectors and the judge will visit the property to assess repair progress and meet with residents to discuss their concerns. The next hearing on the receivership matter is scheduled for Nov. 16, the outlet reported.

While an attorney for the landlord claimed that 90 percent of the repairs were completed and that all tenant complaints would be addressed soon, housing organizers and residents maintain that management has repeatedly failed to address issues and entered units without notice, adding fuel to the ongoing squabble.

Poor living conditions have been apparent at various apartment properties in Chicago. In August, lender Freddie Mac sued the owner of the Ellis Lakeview Apartments and is pursuing foreclosure on the site, which is allegedly in severe disrepair.

More recently, a Northbrook resident who oversees a number of property management companies in Chicago was fined more than $15 million for rat-related problems since 2010.

—Quinn Donoghue