DeKalb officials, nonprofits and volunteers credited for life‑saving response after Dec. 22 Hillcrest fire; residents press city to enforce housing codes

Mayor Leah Barnes and council members on Monday recognized emergency responders, nonprofit partners and local volunteers for helping residents displaced by a Dec. 22 fire at the Hillcrest apartments — known to some tenants as “Tri Frat” — and heard residents ask the city to pursue enforcement or ownership changes to address long‑running code and habitability concerns.

The city’s top elected official opened the presentations by describing the scene and praising the DeKalb Fire Department for getting all residents out safely. “Buildings are buildings. They can be replaced. People can’t,” Mayor Leah Barnes said, calling the fire department’s life‑safety work “one of the most orderly productions I’ve seen.”

Why it matters: Residents said the fire worsened preexisting problems at the property and asked the council to use every tool available to ensure tenants’ safety and habitability going forward. City staff and council members said conversations are underway about additional enforcement or other options.

City staff, DeKalb Township officials and nonprofit partners described the immediate sheltering and recovery work that followed the fire. Mary Hess, DeKalb Township supervisor, told the council she was on site and coordinated early food and shelter arrangements. Riley Lockskiase, speaking for Family Service Agency’s Community Action Program, described agency coordination with township staff, the Red Cross and local churches to secure hotel rooms, provide translators and help residents with short‑ and long‑term plans.

Jennifer Yoakum, city staff, and several nonprofit representatives were singled out by speakers for on‑site coordination during and after the emergency. Hotel staff and Westminster Presbyterian Church volunteered rooms, food, water and meeting space, and the Red Cross provided immediate aid, council members said.

Tenants affected by the fire told the council they remain concerned about conditions at the property and want the city to act. Martina Fleming, who said she lived at 930 Greenbrier, told the council the building had suffered “ongoing neglect, mistreatment, and unsafe living conditions” before the fire and urged officials to review owner compliance with lease and code requirements. Fleming referenced state and local housing standards during her remarks.

Fleming cited sections of state and local law raised at the meeting: an Illinois tenant‑law reference on landlord repair obligations (identified in testimony as “tenant act section 8” and a separate lease‑repair reference described as “section 9”), and local municipal code provisions described in testimony as DeKalb Code chapter 10 and section 10.17 concerning habitability and prohibited nuisance conduct. At the meeting, Fleming asked the council to consider ownership change or other remedies if the landlord cannot meet code obligations.

Council response and next steps: Alderman Powell told the council he had met with the city manager and the mayor to ask “what more can we do,” and Mayor Barnes said staff are already reviewing options. The city manager told the council staff and departments that were involved “have been engaged that night and have been since” and that the city would continue coordinating with nonprofit partners. No formal vote or ordinance was taken; the council said discussions and staff work would continue.

Community partners said they will continue helping displaced families with housing, food and case management while the city explores possible enforcement or other interventions. Several residents who spoke during public comment said they plan to follow up in future meetings with specific requests and documentation.

Ending: Council members repeatedly thanked volunteers, emergency personnel and nonprofit staff for their response and asked displaced residents to remain in touch with city staff so the municipal response can track housing needs and any follow‑up enforcement work.