La Grange House Found To Be Dangerous, Unsafe: Village

LA GRANGE, IL — La Grange is seeking a judge's help in requiring the owner of a local house to make repairs to the property.

In late September, the village sued the owner of the house at 208 S. Ashland Ave. Filed in Cook County Circuit Court, the lawsuit asks a judge to order the owner to bring the house into compliance with the village's property maintenance code. Patch obtained the lawsuit through a public records request.

According to the village's lawsuit, the house has been found to be dangerous, unsafe and unhealthy. The village said it must uphold its ordinances for the common good and welfare of residents.

The village is asking the judge to appoint a receiver, if necessary, to correct the conditions. It is also seeking recovery of the costs to enforce the code for the property.

In March, the village issued a notice to the owner alleging code violations. The notice said the driveway was visibly deteriorated, the garage was structurally unsound, paint was peeling on the garage, and roofs on the house and garage were visibly deteriorated.

The village warned that if the owner failed to correct the violations by April 21, it would take the matter to court. The village followed through five months later.

The latest Cook County tax records show the homeowner takes the owner-occupied exemption, meaning the owner lives in the house.