Building violation repairs in Bronzeville and Grand Boulevard
Historic greystones and the boulevard mansion stock, from the 1900s, in an area with real preservation attention and rising values. Porch citations run high against the masonry count, reflecting how many of these large buildings were subdivided into flats with rear wooden stair systems added later.
Also covers Grand Boulevard, Douglas, Washington Park (east).
What the City's record shows in 60653
cited properties
open violations
items per notice
What gets cited here, in order
- masonry40%
- porches and stairs19%
- carpentry16%
- permits and plans16%
- plumbing5%
Cited buildings here were built around 1906 on average, and 72% of cited owners do not live at the property.
Bronzeville is mostly brick two-flats
The photograph is one of ours, a brick two-flat taken from cited to closed. It is not a picture of Bronzeville itself. It is the building type your blocks are made of, and the standard we finish them to.
Knowing the type matters more than it sounds. It decides whether your notice is a mortar problem or a framing one, whether a permit is needed before anyone touches it, and what the inspector will look at when they come back.
See more of our workWhat we fix most in Bronzeville
Notices here lead with masonry, then porches and stairs. These are the trades that actually close cases on these blocks, and we self-perform all but the licensed ones.
Masonry Repair & Restoration
The full exterior brought back, including terra cotta and historic ornament, when patching one spot will not satisfy anybody.
On the notice as: Repair exterior wall, Building in disrepair
Cornice & Bay Wall Repair
The details that make a Chicago greystone or two-flat worth what it is worth, stabilised and restored instead of stripped off.
On the notice as: Repair cornice, Repair bay wall
Porches, Stairs & Decks
Porches and exterior stairs rebuilt to current Chicago code, which is the item the City is least willing to be patient about.
On the notice as: Repair porch system, Repair exterior stair
Tuckpointing & Repointing
The joints get ground out and repointed to match, so the wall stops shedding mortar and the inspector stops writing it up.
On the notice as: Repair exterior wall, Building in disrepair
Parapet & Coping Repair
The wall above your roof line made solid again, so nothing is loose over the sidewalk and water stops entering the top of the building.
On the notice as: Parapet, Parapet & coping
Egress, Exits & Stair Lighting
Exits cleared and stairs lit. These are life-safety items, and they are the ones that escalate fastest when ignored.
On the notice as: Obstructions in exit way, Illuminate public stair/hall
Cited in Bronzeville? Find out what it costs.
We price every item on your notice in person, for free, and tell you honestly which ones are repairs and which are replacements.
Insured. A person answers, Monday to Saturday.