Kenwood high-rise fire victims still waiting to return home after almost two years

CHICAGO (WGN) — It's been almost two years since a Kenwood high-rise fire forced several people out of their homes, and many say they have yet to return to their units.

The massive fire affected more than 140 apartments, with the vast majority still vacant.

"The fire happened on Jan. 25, my birthday. I got up in the morning, had pancakes (and then) the fire broke out. I haven't slept in my apartment since that night," said resident Ken Harris, who has lived at the Harper Square Co-Operative with his wife, Rita, for decades.

"I just want to go home," she said.

The pair are amongst dozens of residents displaced after a January 2023 fire claimed the life of one woman and left several other people injured.

Denise Loggins spoke with WGN News last December, expressing her desire to return to the place she once called home. Loggins reiterated as much on Wednesday.

"We are approaching the second Thanksgiving not in our homes," she said. "We'll probably be celebrating a second Christmas not being in our homes."

Many residents are senior citizens.

"When you have a body of people, primarily, who are seniors on a set income, the idea of even doubling their assessments or their monthly caring costs is unbearable," resident Malinda Jordan said.

Some residents, like Joy Anderson-Woodfolk, told WGN News that the shifting deadlines and misdirection had left them helpless.

"I'm starting to believe, 'Are you trying to wait us out and make us just walk away?'" Johnson said.

Building department records show that a permit for major repairs on the building wasn't applied for until more than five months after the fire.

But there may be some light at the end of the tunnel.

Responding to WGN's request for comment, the city said, in part, that "An application for a certificate of occupancy for floors 2-10 was submitted on July 8′′ and added that "all inspections by the Department of Buildings and the Department of Fire have been approved and the certificate of occupancy was issued."

WGN News has learned that residents from the second through the 10th floors may return to their units as soon as the approval and certificate issuance is complete.

According to sources, the certificate of occupancy for the middle floors of the building was only submitted Wednesday morning, however. Additionally, building officials have not yet applied for a certificate of occupancy for the upper floors, which sustained most of the fire damage.

Harper Square Co-Operative president Arthur Slater told WGN News in a phone interview that he hopes to hand out keys to residents on Monday, Nov. 18.