Mold forces Mundelein Apartments' residents from their homes

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Mold forces apartments' residents from their homes

By Madhu Krishnamurthy Daily Herald Staff Writer

Posted on July 07, 2001

The musty smells of damp hallways, sinking floors and moisture-damaged walls

and ceilings are problems Gloria Vargas said she has been living with for

four years at Mundelein Apartments.

But Friday, Vargas packed up her belongings after Mundelein village building

inspectors made it clear her apartment at 327 Walnut Court was not fit for

occupancy. The problem was identified weeks earlier when village officials

first placed a red flag on Vargas' apartment.

" I've been crying for the last three days. Where am I going to go? " Vargas

asked. At least for now, she'll move in with relatives.

Hers is one of more than a dozen apartments deemed unfit by village

inspectors who believed the units are contaminated with dangerous toxic

mold. Inspectors advised residents to leave Thursday afternoon after

checking 15 of 20 apartments at one of four Mundelein Apartments' buildings.

The Vargas' were one of two families headed out the door Friday morning.

A worried Dorian Rios and his family also left their apartment Friday

morning. Rios said his family has lived there only eight months and the

apartment's two bathrooms have mold growing on the walls.

In all, about a dozen apartments were flagged with red violation stickers

for mold damage in the bathroom area, including some with structural damage

such as collapsed ceilings and caved-in floors.

Apartment managers said they have hired their own consultant to study the

" issue " and are in talks with the village. They did not respond Friday to

questions of what, if any, accommodations will be provided to affected

residents.

Vargas said mold has been a recurring problem since she moved into the

apartment with her 18-year-old daughter, . " You can smell (the mold), "

she added.

A few months into her lease, the bathroom " walls and the ceiling would

(turn) black, " she said.

Vargas fears the mold may be affecting the family's health. She and

are fatigued and fall asleep constantly, she said.

While apartment managers temporarily fixed her sinking bathroom floor and

leaky ceiling, the mold keeps returning, Vargas said.

That combined with increased mold growth near her living room window sill

and a sinking kitchen floor was enough to send the 42-year-old packing.

Vargas said building managers offered to allow her to stay in a studio

apartment while the mold is removed. Instead, Vargas said she is moving in

with her sister in Schaumburg and looking for alternative housing.

The American Red Cross of Greater Chicago, which has a facility in

Mundelein, is aware of the situation.

" We're on standby. If for whatever reason we do need to open a shelter, we

will be able to do so quickly, " said spokesperson Chaunda Roseborough.