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Chicago labels dangerous buildings with red ‘X’
WBEX.org recently published an extensive piece exploring Chicago's controversial red "X" program. The article delves into how this initiative came to be and its current challenges.
Chicago resident Poppy Coleman stumbled upon two dilapidated buildings adorned with large red "X" signs while strolling through her Logan Square neighborhood. Her curiosity piqued, she set out to uncover what these ominous markers meant. What she discovered was a citywide effort that had quietly placed nearly 2,000 of these signs across Chicago by 2023. Online forums buzzed with speculation about the red "X" – was it a sign of condemnation, vacancy, or perhaps an indication the property was up for sale? Yet, behind this initiative lay a somber reality: its original intent was to protect firefighters and others from hazardous conditions in unsafe structures.
The tragic events leading to this program date back to December 22, 2010. Firefighters were searching a derelict laundromat in South Shore when a sudden collapse claimed the lives of two firefighters and injured 19 others. This devastating incident prompted Alderman Debra Silverstein to take action. She sponsored two key ordinances aimed at addressing Chicago’s growing problem with dangerous buildings.
Her first ordinance, enacted in 2011, mandated the cataloging of buildings featuring bowstring trusses, which are particularly susceptible to collapsing during fires. Her second ordinance sought to identify and label all potentially hazardous structures within the city limits. For this task, they adopted a design similar to those used by fire departments in New York City and other urban centers—a large red "X," borrowed from a federal program designed to mark vacant buildings.
These red "X" signs are not merely decorative; they serve as critical warnings indicating that a building is structurally compromised and poses significant risks to anyone entering. Since the implementation of Silverstein’s ordinance in June 2012, the Chicago Fire Department (CFD) has installed 1,804 such signs. While this represents only a fraction of the over 5,000 vacant properties registered in Chicago, it marks a step forward in raising awareness about these dangers.
However, progress has been slow. The city initially identified approximately 1,800 buildings deemed urgent candidates for red "X" signage. The Department of Buildings provided an initial list of several hundred properties showing more than 35% deterioration. From there, decisions regarding which buildings received these signs largely fell to individual aldermen and their staffs. Despite these efforts, rehabilitation remains rare. In fact, after two years of operation, only one property has been successfully restored and had its red "X" officially removed.
Funding issues have further complicated matters. The program initially benefited from a $675,000 grant from FEMA’s Assistance to Firefighters initiative. Local contractors AGAE Contractors and M-K Signs handled most of the installations, using nearly all of the funds within just thirteen months, from June 2012 to July 2013. Since then, no new signs have been added due to financial constraints.
This program, once heralded as lifesaving, now faces budgetary shortfalls and logistical hurdles. Its future remains uncertain, leaving many to question whether Chicago can sustain such an ambitious safety initiative without additional resources or policy changes.
Thanks, Dan.