Aldermen call for faster action on vacant, boarded houses as housing stability and public safety concerns grow

At the Dec. 30 Committee of the Whole meeting, Alderman Donlon urged the council and administration to take more aggressive steps to address vacant and boarded houses that are attracting trash and posing public‑safety and neighborhood‑stability problems.

Donlon said he has repeatedly raised individual properties and asked for timely action, including a request for a 24‑hour order in one case because of exposed trash adjacent to occupied homes. He said the problem persists despite repeated emails and department involvement and described a communication gap between departments and corporation counsel that delays enforcement or demolition.

Public speaker Jim Patia echoed concerns about housing conditions and called for stronger, actionable measures in 2026. Patia criticized repeated attempts to solve problems without durable results and said previous attempts at a landlord registry have failed; he urged the council to stop relying solely on studies and to pursue concrete remedies to keep people from living in unsafe housing.

Council members did not adopt a new ordinance at the meeting but the topic was identified for further work: Donlon indicated the issue will be discussed at upcoming infrastructure committee meetings. The chair and staff did not record a formal directive in the transcript tonight beyond the pledge to address the matter in committee discussion.

Next steps: Alderman Donlon will pursue the issue in the infrastructure committee in early 2026; council members and staff referenced future budget workshops and committee meetings where staffing and enforcement resources could be considered.