AURORA, IL — The owners of a downtown Aurora apartment complex, along with a construction company, were sued by the state for alleged improper asbestos cleanup.
Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced June 4 that his office obtained an injunction order in his lawsuit against Fox Shore Preservation L.P. and Legacy Construction Services, LLC, whom he sued May 29, alleging they caused air pollution by disturbing materials containing asbestos during renovation work at Fox Shore Apartments, 430 N. River St.
Fox Shore purchased the four-story, 94-unit residential building on Nov. 10, 2025, and hired Legacy Dec. 17 to begin renovations, which included removing, sanding, covering and/or repairing popcorn ceilings, according to the injunction order.
Building owners received a report Feb. 13 stating the site contained asbestos. A week later, Legacy subcontracted a licensed asbestos contractor, and Fox Shore self-reported the renovation activities to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, according to the filing.
On March 3, IEPA representatives inspected the building, finding 27 units in various states of renovation, and confirmed the work had disturbed the asbestos, Raoul's lawsuit outlines. It alleges that the cleanup efforts that had begun were not sufficient to prevent the spread of the contaminated debris or dust.
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral found in certain rocks once commonly used in building materials, particularly before the mid-1970s and until the late 1980s. If asbestos-containing material is in good condition and left untouched, it shouldn't pose health risks, officials said, but if damaged or disturbed, it poses significant risk to human health.
The injunction order requires Fox Shore to clean the building according to a cleanup plan approved May 14 by the IEPA. The owners of the complex were ordered to temporarily relocate all residents to prevent any further exposure to asbestos fibers.
The injunction is not a final resolution but "addresses Plaintiff's most immediate concerns regarding the allegations set forth" in the complaint, according to Raoul's office.
Residents will live in the alternative housing until the IEPA determines it is safe for them to return to Fox Shore Apartments.
"Asbestos is a dangerous carcinogen that — when mishandled — threatens the health of those who are exposed," Raoul said in a statement. "The agreed injunction order will ensure safety protocols are in place with oversight by the IEPA while asbestos remediation continues, protecting both residents and workers."
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