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Judge-Ordered Vacate Empties South Shore Building Deemed Unsafe

The order forced rapid relocation under a foreclosure receivership.

Overview

  • Tenants were cleared from 7500 S. South Shore Drive on Dec. 12 after a Cook County judge labeled the property a fire hazard and denied a 60‑day extension.
  • Friedman Communities, the court‑appointed receiver, offered leaseholders up to $5,000 to relocate, while a request for $7,500 per household was rejected.
  • More than 40 residents accepted the assistance, but some people without leases said they were ineligible and reported rushed lockouts as the building was secured.
  • A lease‑termination agreement obtained by reporters shows compensated tenants released the receiver, the bank holding the foreclosed property, and prior owners from liability.
  • City agencies and nonprofits, including the Mayor’s Office, DFSS and Catholic Charities, arranged hotel stays and short‑term support as single‑digit temperatures set in.