Chambana Sun

The Champaign City Council passed a resolution to support those displaced by a recent local condemnation during a recent meeting.

As of Jan. 4, more than half of the buildings in Champaign Park Apartments have been condemned and deemed unlivable, according to a news release from the city.  A total of 26 out of 42 buildings are designated as unfit for humans due to a lack of heat, no running water and flooding. 

The area's issues have been reported to the city since October, and the management was taken to court in November, resulting in a mandate to resolve all of the issues and to provide housing to displaced residents, the release said. 

The city ultimately had to house many displaced residents while repairs to the buildings were in progress. While some residents moved back in December, the city still received multiple complaints that the heat and water had not been restored. Since Christmas, the city has continued to provide housing, and more than 50 residents are still in hotels.   

During the meeting on Jan. 17, the council discussed a new motion that would authorize the city manager to fund housing relief for the tenants for an extended amount of $350,000 on top of the more than $97,000 already spent on the matter. The council also would amend its annual budget to account for the new expenses, and it ultimately voted in favor of purchasing temporary housing.

The management and owners of Champaign Park Place are now required to fix all the reported issues, provide housing once again and reimburse the city for all expenses related to housing displaced residents. The condemnation order affected 380 units across the 504-unit complex. The city has worked with 96 households during the process, and any units lacking heat, water and/or hot water are eligible for the city's aid.

"As of tonight, according to our records, we have housed 65 households in hotels," Neighborhood Services Director Kerri Wiman said. "Fourteen have left the hotels for a variety of reasons. 51 are in the hotel as of tonight. And approximately 92 households are in [condemned units]; the records that we have showed that those were occupied units as of the end of October and we have not rehoused them, so they may be still living at the property."