Bricks fall from building in West Garfield Park; some residents evacuated
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A load of bricks crashed down from a building in West Garfield Park Monday night.
Some of them landed on the front lawn of nearby townhomes near Pulaski Road and Washington Boulevard. We are told some residents were evacuated.
No one was hurt, but neighbors say it could have been much worse.
"Normally, my daughter and my grandson is in the house, and the room that took the most damage is litter laying in their bed," a man said. "Worst case, I could be down at the county looking at bodies."
Neighbors tell us the vacant building from which the bricks fell has been an ongoing safety issue.
A Buildings Department spokesman said inspectors visited the site Tuesday morning, and the owner has begun making emergency temporary repairs and bringing in contractors to fix the loose masonry. The city has taken the owner to court for previous building code violations in 2002, but details on those violations were not immediately available.
The city plans to add further violations to that court case. The next hearing in that case is set for April 20.