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Resident group urges North Aurora to speed demolition of burned house at 21 North Adams
Summary
A neighborhood spokesperson told the Village Board the burned, vacant structure at 21 North Adams has been an eight-month hazard and urged the village to expedite a demolition permit or condemn the property; staff said a demo permit has been issued and daily follow-up is planned.
Neighbors told the North Aurora Village Board on May 4 that a burned, vacant house at 21 North Adams is harming the neighborhood and urged immediate action to remove it.
"It's a health hazard," said resident Dave Thiessen, who identified himself as a spokesperson for nine families and said the home has allowed asbestos, lead-paint dust and mold to spread, attracted rodents and looters and left dead trees that could fall on neighboring homes and utility lines. Thiessen said some neighbors are experiencing anxiety and post-traumatic stress because of the property and offered his professional help to accelerate permitting. "We need the looters stopped," he said.
Staff member Nathan told the board the demolition permit for 21 North Adams has been issued but the contractor had not yet mobilized. Nathan said disconnects for water and sewer services — including a lead service that had to be addressed and a Fox Metro sewer issue — delayed start-up but that the village will press the contractor and that code enforcement will follow up daily until work begins.
Police Chief said extra patrols are assigned around the property and an active investigation into scavenging/theft is underway; evidence analysis could lead to arrests soon, the chief said.
Thiessen outlined two near-term options to resolve the problem: expedite any pending demolition permit application to get a contractor on site, or have the village condemn and demolish the building. He said he is a licensed Illinois contractor and a civil engineering graduate and volunteered to help the building department obtain any missing paperwork.
Mayor Gaffino and staff said the temporary fence around the burned property was installed quickly by the insurance company to secure the site and that the fence was not surveyed to property corners. Staff said once demolition is complete the fence should be removed. Nathan said the village located a family member in Florida after an owner death complicated the chain of title, which lengthened the timeline for action.
The board did not take new formal action during public comment; staff reported the issued demo permit and pledged regular code-enforcement follow-up.
