Officials in Highwood, a town that recently reinstated a property tax, say they do not have as much financial muscle as they would like to flex against problems striking at the heart of the community–graffiti, gangs and deteriorating buildings.
“People are starting to wake and speak out for their homes,” said lifelong resident and organizer Donna Ohlwein. “Everybody wants to live in a nice city, a nice town.”
The group, Concerned Citizens of Highwood, started in the 4th Ward, organizing itself around four rental buildings.
According to some neighbors and Ald. Lisa Cervac, the owners have allowed the buildings to fall into disrepair and get overcrowded.
The group blames the buildings for other problems in the neighborhood–graffiti, gang and drug activity, beer drinking at the railroad tracks, and burning trash.
“Once you start fixing up your city, slapping on some nice paints, (planting) some flowers, (installing) better lighting, and you see people walking the streets, the gangbangers don’t want to be around,” Ohlwein said.
Since its inception this fall, the group has instituted a citywide push to clean up Highwood, a town of about 5,000. A recent meeting drew more than 100 people.
“These residents have had it,” Cervac said. The buildings “are overcrowded. They are extremely poorly maintained.”
One of the owners on the group’s list, Albert Turcki, was surprised to hear of the residents’ concerns. He said–and a tenant confirmed–that he has recently painted and carpeted the apartments at his building at 331 Ashland Ave.
Some residents say they are determined to take action. They said they plan to hire Waukegan attorney Newton Finn, who has fought for similar interests in his home town and recently filed another lawsuit against building owners.
Finn has used a state statute that allows any homeowner within three blocks of a building with code violations to file a lawsuit and force the owner to clean it up. Under the law, the landlord also must pay all court costs and fees.
Over the last two years, 65 lawsuits have been filed, and about 50 have resulted in owners agreeing to fix up their properties, Finn said. The rest are pending.
“It is a remarkable remedy,” Finn said. “I think they are going to be very successful. It is extremely encouraging for the city of Highwood that the citizens are nipping these problems in the bud.”
Cervac blamed the alleged problems in Highwood on a lack of money.
Property taxes were eliminated in Highwood in 1983 by then-mayor Fidel Ghini. That left the city to rely on fees and the state sales tax to support city services.
Two years ago, the city reinstated the property tax and hired its first full-time health and housing inspector and a city administrator.
“We have absentee landlords who have taken advantage of the community’s lack of funding,” Cervac said. “The community is not funded as well as it needs to be. If you are not as well-funded, you don’t have as much access to enforcement.”
City Administrator Mark Rooney acknowledged that there are some problems with deteriorated buildings. But he said Highwood has to be careful when investigating a landlord accused of code violations.
“You take every citizen complaint, but that does not give the city the power to go in and run roughshod over someone in their home,” he said. “You have to respect the rights of the homeowners and renters.”
Still, Rooney said he welcomed the residents’ plans to work with Finn and go after the landlords.
