STATEMENT BY PARK FOREST MAYOR JOSEPH A. WOODS
On the Autumn Ridge Apartments, July 21, 2025
I am saddened by the conditions under which some of our Park Forest residents have had to live. I am frustrated beyond words at the blatant disregard of the landlords’ obligations to their tenants. I am angry that the owners of the apartments have demonstrated careless and irresponsible management over the years that has led to the suffering of so many.
Over the course of the last several weeks, the Village of Park Forest has been dealing with a major series of issues regarding the Autumn Ridge housing complex. Some of these issues have gained wide attention because of media exposure, especially as they relate to the lack of air conditioning at the complex during a period of high temperatures, and some also have concerns about utilities and other services that are vital to the quality of life to which the residents are entitled. These, however, are only capstones to a series of building code violations and failure to meet fiscal responsibilities on the part of the owners.
For months, the Village has been looking at ways to address these matters without jeopardizing the tenants by forcing closure of the development. We have looked at several different ways in which correction of the various issues might be affected, but we have done so always with the goal of improving the living conditions of the residents without causing them to lose the roof that is over their heads.
In meetings with the owners, who apparently are not residents of the Chicago Region but of other parts of the country from New Jersey to California, we have made clear that we will use every means at our disposal to remedy the situation, not only as it relates to the matters that have most recently come to the media’s attention, but also those for which we repeatedly have been issuing building code citations, all of which are causing a harmful environment for the residents.
The Village Staff and our attorneys have been exploring every possible enforcement action that we might legally take. Given the nature of these matters, we have been very circumspect in what we have announced publicly in order not to compromise our abilities to remedy the problems. Our goal is to find solutions and not merely to advance conflict. As recently as this afternoon, we have received promises from the owners that corrections are in the planning, but we are withholding any level of confidence that those promised actions will come to fruition. Instead, until we actually see evidence that improvements are being made and that bills are being paid, we will continue to prepare for whatever legal steps may be necessary to bring to a halt the long history of neglect that has been present at the complex.
Autumn Ridge has the potential to be an excellent housing opportunity for residents of the South Suburbs. However, that potential can be realized only if the persons who are legally responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the property fully meet their obligations. The Village Manager and I will continue to meet with the owners – and to be honest, we’re not sure whether they represent the majority of the ownership or not – and in those meetings, we will not relent in our insistence that we receive more than promises.
Our steps to force improvement through legal means will continue until all the problems are addressed satisfactorily. Finally, let me say that I appreciate the willingness of so many of the residents of the Autumn Ridge complex to be forthright with us in sharing the multiplicity of problems that they face. The extent to which we can document problems increases the strength of whatever legal actions we may find are required. I encourage all the residents to provide as much documentation as possible regarding these matters, including photographs and comprehensive descriptions of deficiencies.
All such items lend strength to the arguments we eventually may find necessary to be made in the courts of law. Thank you.