EAST CHICAGO, Ind. (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Nearly 100 residents of nine-story, low-income senior apartment building in East Chicago have been evacuated because engineers fear the building could collapse.
The John Nicosia Senior Building, located on Railroad Avenue, has crumbling concrete support columns, with rusted rebar visible over former resident’s shoulder as WBBM Newsradio spoke to him in the parking lot.
David and his brother were collecting the last few things from their apartment.
"So engineers and architects deemed this building unsafe. HUD ordered an emergency evacuation of all tenants...The engineers and everything said 'you've got to go.' So, we've got to go," he said.
"In a way, yes, it is concerning. Is is a lot of upheaval? But it's better to be safe than sorry. They look at what happened in Florida. They don't want another event like that, because you know, if these wall came down, it's over."
Residents are in hotels. They’re getting money for food and other assistance.
David and his brother found an apartment.
The building is 50-years old. And while the problems were not just discovered, the engineers decided it was time to act.
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