Chicago cites Yale Building in first cooling ordinance case of 2026
Chicago officials say the Yale Building in Englewood is the first property cited this year for violating the city’s cooling ordinance after its chiller failed in late August.
The Department of Buildings inspected the property at 6565 S. Yale Ave. on Aug. 31 and cited it for an inoperable chiller, according to city officials. Records show a first hearing was held Sept. 2, and the case has been referred to the Department of Law for Circuit Court. Owners can face fines of up to $1,000 per day for each violation.
The ordinance was created after three elderly women died during a 2022 heat wave at the James Sneider Apartments in Rogers Park. It applies to some higher-risk buildings, including nursing homes, housing for older adults, high-rises taller than 80 feet and residential buildings with at least 100 units.
Owner John Luce said the building’s 20-year-old, 100-ton chiller has been repaired and is due to be replaced this fall. He also said more than 10 extra window air-conditioning units were provided to residents. The Yale Building dates to the 1890s and was converted to low-income senior housing in 2003.
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