Building violation repairs in Near West Side and East Garfield
A ZIP pulled in two directions: institutional blocks around the Medical District, and 1910s residential masonry either side of it. Porch and stair citations run well above the city average here, driven by the density of converted two- and three-flats with rear wooden stair systems — the exact structures the City looks hardest at after the Cook County porch ordinance.
Also covers Ukrainian Village (west), Tri-Taylor, Medical District.
What the City's record shows in 60612
cited properties
open violations
items per notice
What gets cited here, in order
- masonry33%
- porches and stairs20%
- permits and plans18%
- carpentry17%
- plumbing9%
Cited buildings here were built around 1915 on average, and 63% of cited owners do not live at the property.
Near West Side 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 Near West Side 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 Near West Side
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.
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
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
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
Structural Repairs & Engineer Reports
The engineer report the City is demanding, filed, plus the repairs it calls for. Until this lands, nothing else on your notice can close.
On the notice as: Submit structural report, Structural member, pier block
Permits, Plans & Unpermitted Work
Drawings prepared, permits pulled under our licence, and old unpermitted work made legal. You never have to call the department yourself.
On the notice as: Plans & permits required, Work not allowed
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
Nearby on the West Side
Cited in Near West Side? 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.