Management Company Disputes WGN's Claim of Mismanagement After Water Pipe Bursts in Chicago Apartment Building

Lake Park Manor Apartments: 3625 S. Lake Park Ave. Photo: Cook County Assessor. 

Yesterday, WGN ran a story featuring a south side apartment building where a water pipe burst and reportedly flooded several apartments.

The apartment complex is located at 3625 South Lake Park Avenue and managed by Eastlake Management.

Tenant Mellony Hubbard told WGN reporter Jae Miller her apartment was under several feet of water and most of her belongings were destroyed. It was also stated that the management company wasn't responding to the tenants' questions, and never returned WGN's calls.

I sent Eileen Rhodes, the Vice President of Eastlake Management an email last night and this morning I received a response.

Rhodes said when the pipe burst in Hubbard's apartment on January 23rd, the mother of two was not home. But on site staff members were alerted to the situation and quickly fixed the problem. Hubbard's apartment was the only unit that flooded, according to the VP's email.

Rhodes admits the boiler malfunctioned twice, but says each time the heating system failed, it was quickly restored.

 "It is my understanding the heating system malfunctioned on Friday. Repair crews were onsite quickly and the system was back up Friday early evening. Staff monitored the situation all weekend. The system went down briefly on Saturday and was promptly brought back up. Although the system went down, the units did not lose much heat before the repairs were completed. As a consequence of all the repairs, a pipe burst in one unit," said Rhodes.

The Vice President of Eastlake Management also said Hubbard’s furniture has been scheduled for cleaning.