EXCLUSIVE: GASSMAN RESPONDS TO DRUG REHAB CONCERNS

A drug rehab operation that is being run out of a residential apartment building at 1148-1155 West Lunt Avenue, just east of N. Sheridan Road, has neighbors and residents of the building upset, angry and worried about their own safety. Ennui Cafe is nearby, on the southeast corner of the intersection. It is one block from Loyola Park's beach. The Bench has exclusive new information below. Residents question the legality of the operation. There have been several letters (one appears below) and at least one petition generated by residents of the quiet cul de sac. The Bench presents an exclusive: The response from the landlord of the building, David Gassman, and to announce that there will be a meeting on Thursday, June 12 at 6:00 p.m. to address this issue (see Mr. Gassman's letter, below). ALSO: Residents inside of the building tell The Bench that four police cars were at the building last night (Friday) to "handle some problems." No further details were available, but indications are that the CPD is NOT happy about this situation. First, one of the letters from residents, then the response from Mr. Gassman: Dear Mr. Gassman We are writing to express our outrage over what has happened to our courtyard apartment complex at West Lunt. We moved into this complex because of its perceived safety, pleasant neighbors, safe environment and fairly decent structural upkeep. The location and outside architecture are minor bonuses, but the real value we embraced was the safety and peace of the complex. There are, as you know, many less expensive apartments in the eastern Rogers Park neighborhood. They are no further from the beach or the EL in real terms, and many are closer. One block away from the lake is hardly an issue compared to two blocks. Location is not really your selling point. A relatively upscale building and safety was the deal-maker. Apartment offerings almost universally include heat, which you obviated last year. Not only do we have to pay heating costs, many of our long term residents had to endure truly burdensome and filthy refitting procedures when you unilaterally installed your new hearing system. Still, we stayed, because we enjoyed our neighbors, our security, and our apartments. Now many of us have mice in our apartments because of the holes left after construction. Most of us had to undergo extensive credit checks to secure a unit. In truth, these checks, although onerous did not represent a barrier to most of us. They represented a way to ensure living with long term, responsible, contributing members of a community. The credit check was a measure of assurance. In the past couple of years the communal gate locks have had to be changed twice. We understand that things happen and know that some people change, and occasionally this is necessary. We felt additionally assured by this, because you were paying attention. However, the latest venture by your rental agents has gone beyond all bounds. We, literally, have a drug rehab facility within our midst. First, a drug rehab is a commercial enterprise and is not zoned for a residential area without permission. This must be illegal and if it is not we will have to bring it up to the city to urge it to be made illegal. Second, any residents of a neighborhood, especially a gated apartment complex, should have a say into whether the environment is the proper place for that facility. We were never informed or consulted regarding a rehab community moving in. We need to report this to our Alderman. There are seriously tangible risks and diminishment of quality of life to those of us that are productive, honest and peaceful members of our complex. While none of our existing tenants feel any prejudice about people trying to redeem their lives from the scourge of addiction, the statistics are not so good. Yes, as, individuals, some will make it, That is a wonderful thing. But others have little desire or chance of changing their lifestyle. The fact is, these are not all people who voluntarily came into rehab; some were surely mandated by the courts. It was rehab or jail. Epidemiological studies show there is a variable chance of success for those who came to treatment by any route and much less for those who came from a court mandated route. It is a very sad reality. For all those who will not succeed, they retain a key to our front gate, to our absolute security. “Moving in day” was quite an experience. Several of us were working from home that day. It was like an army descended. We were dumbfounded by the extremely loud and chaotic goings on. The new tenants are now congregating outside our gate in groups smoking in the morning when we leave for work and in the evening when we come home. They yell throughout the courtyard. This will only get worse when the weather turns nice and we have our windows open. The whole neighborhood has taken note of this and we are truly afraid for our safety. Many in the group have very little to do but to study our comings and goings and can easily monitor all of our schedules. Can you really say that the decision you have made about renting residential apartments to this organization considered the well-being of your longstanding tenants? In addition to the serious safety issue, we are increasingly embarrassed that this is where we live. We used to be proud of the building. Now, the building is becoming notorious as a drug rehab. Neighbors walking down Lunt to the beach cross the street rather than walk by the crowd of characters hanging out in front of our gate. Of course we don’t have that option and have to walk through them just to get to our front doors. How can you possibility reconcile taking a chance with our security and diminishing the quality of our lives in this way? GASSMAN'S RESPONSE (CLICK FOR LARGER IMAGE)