We have shown many homes with a red X on them and our clients were curious as to what this means. Does it mean demolish? Tear-down? Do not enter? Well, after doing some investigating it can mean all of that!
During my research I found out that there was an ordinance introduced by Mayor Rahm Emanuel and 50th Ward Alderman Debra Silverstein along with Chicago Fire Department (CFD) to mark buildings that have compromised structural stability to ensure the safety of fire responders. CFD received $675,000 from the FEMA Assistance to Firefighters-Fire Prevention and Safety Grant to implement the new program.
The City of Chicago and Chicago Fire Department, in conjunction with the Department of Buildings, will identify structural conditions on buildings that could create collapse danger for crews responding to fires. These conditions include weak truss or other roofing systems, missing mortar, rotted or damaged timbers and other structural issues. Private contractors, paid for by the grant, will supply and install the markers, which are highly-visible reflective emblems, 24 inches square, and feature a large red X.
“These markers will serve as an early warning system for our first responders and I am proud to stand with the City Council in support of a new, smart policy to protect the brave men and women who serve our communities,” Alderman Silverstein said. “Chicago’s first responders so often put their own well-being on the line for the lives of others.
You will also hear many real estate broker’s say this means it’s set for a demolition case, but that is not always a fact. The City of Chicago is working on getting more and more vacant buildings demolished due to gang activity, drug use and overall disruption in the community. This will better our communities and hopefully get us to start rebuilding.
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