The floor of a Morton Grove condominium unit partially collapsed Saturday night, causing the evacuation of the building at 5935 Lincoln Avenue.
According to a news release, shortly after 8 p.m., the Morton Grove Fire Department was called to the scene. Other area fire departments were also called in to assist in the emergency.
First responders arrived on scene, assessed the situation, and began evacuating all occupants from the building, officials said. Emergency personnel safely evacuated occupants from the 28-unit building, including assisting several individuals from their balconies.
No injuries were reported, and all occupants exited safely along with several pets.
Firefighters temporarily stabilized the structure Saturday night by installing emergency shoring to support the affected area, the release said. The shoring remains in place while the property’s management company, Hillcrest Property Management, Inc., works with structural engineers to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the building, which began the morning of Monday, March 9.
The release said the evaluation includes an assessment of the failed column and an inspection of other structural supports to determine the building’s overall safety and necessary remediation steps. Hillcrest will submit repair plans to the Village’s Department of Building and Inspectional Services on behalf of the condominium association for review and permit approval.
According to the release, the building remains closed to residents and the public. Occupancy will not be permitted until all identified structural deficiencies have been addressed in accordance with the structural engineer’s evaluation and recommendations, all applicable codes, and following inspection and approval by the Village. Following consultation with ComEd, electrical service to the building was restored to maintain fire protection systems while structural assessments continue.
Throughout the response, additional assistance was provided by numerous community partners, the release said. The American Red Cross remained on-site to support displaced residents and first responders, providing food, water, and assistance resources, and continues to provide support to affected residents. Wright-Way Rescue at 5915 Lincoln Avenue assisted with the care and safe transport of several animals from the building. One additional cat was located on Sunday morning and reunited with its owner.
The release said the Village is actively working with impacted residents to connect them with support services through our government partners, local nonprofit organizations, religious institutions, and other community partners that have offered assistance during this time, including State Senator Ram Villivalam, State Representative Mike Kelly, Cook County Commissioner Josina Morita, Niles Township, the Muslim Community Center (MCC), the Morton Grove Foundation, and the American Red Cross.
The building remains secured and unoccupied while engineers complete their structural evaluation. The Village will continue working with residents and building management as the next steps are determined, according to the release. The Village also plans to review current policies and consider requirements for periodic structural assessments of multi-family buildings to help prevent similar incidents in the future.
