'Enough is Enough'

Sterling Estates Mobile Home Park residents fed up with its condition

Wednesday, June 26, 2002

By Michelle Mullins
Staff writer

Reginald Watson has had human feces in his yard for more than a week after the sewer system backed up. And although he's complained to park management, the sewage remains.

It's a similar story for Robb Henderson — at least three times in the past year, he's cleaned sewage out of his yard when the sewer system overflowed.

"It was six inches deep, covering the whole back yard," he said. "It was quite a bit. We have kids, too, and this is a serious problem."

And then there's Craig Rupar, whose 8-year-old son Craig Jr. was hit by a car going much faster than the posted 10 mph speed limit.

In addition to the stories the residents of the Lyons Township mobile home park tell, they have rolls of film to show flooding in their lawns and streets, abandoned mobile homes with their windows knocked out, debris backed up in the drainage systems and rotting benches that are supposed to be picnic tables.

Residents said enough is enough.

And the Cook County Department of Public Health — the county agency that inspects and regulates mobile home parks — agreed.

The health department inspected the 806-home, 80-acre park at 9300 W. 79th St., just outside of Justice, in November and April and found a number of health and safety violations, county health department spokeswoman Kitty Loewy said.

In November, the health department decided not to renew the Sterling Estates management's license to operate the park, meaning the management cannot sell mobile homes until the violations are addressed, officials said.

In April, the Cook County Department of Public Health brought Illinois Department of Public Health inspectors with them to examine the park, and state officials agreed with the county's findings, Loewy said.

Next month, the county will inspect the park again with officials from the Cook County state's attorney's office, and if violations remain, the state's attorney's office will file a lawsuit against the park's owners, Capital First Realty, on behalf of the Cook County Department of Public Health, Loewy said.

"If there is no resolution, if the violations do not get corrected after this next inspection, then we will move ahead with litigation," she said. "It's important to take these necessary steps to protect the health of the residents.

"We'd like to get this resolved."

The Cook County health department inspects the spacing of each mobile home; whether garbage is properly taken care of; whether there are animals loose; road conditions, and drainage, among other things, Loewy said.

Calls to park management and the owners of the park were not returned. An attorney for the park said he would decline comment until he did his own research.

'Enough is Enough'

Resident Tod Matlock was fed up with people speeding down Briarwood Drive in the park, so he asked his neighbors to sign a petition for more stop signs in the community. In his petition drive, in which he collected nearly 55 signatures, he learned neighbors were concerned about numerous other issues.

On June 13, Matlock circulated another petition, which he called "Enough is Enough." In it, he wrote management is "ruining our community. They continually violate local and state codes by allowing unsafe and unhealthy conditions to exist."

"I want to stand up for the community," Matlock said. "I want it fixed now before it gets worse."

To date, he has nearly 300 signatures, but he said he is not stopping until he knocks on every homeowner's door.

This week, however, an advertisement has been running on the park's cable TV station, warning residents to beware of the petition — a ploy Matlock said park management is using to try to intimidate him and park residents.

"I don't sign petitions unless I agree with them," resident Jerry Bogaczyk said. "I agree (with this) 100 percent.

"When you pay for something, you expect to get something. When you go to Dominick's and spend $100 in groceries, you don't want to get $10 in groceries when you get home. The rent is getting out of whack ... and nothing is being done."

Residents said if a series of improvements were done, many again would be proud to live in a community they made their home.

"We want to be happy in our home," resident Darla Gomez said. "We don't want to make trouble. We just want to be happy, and I don't thing that's too much to ask."

Looking for answers

Longtime residents said that when they moved into the park, security guards were stationed at the entrance, and guests had to register with security before they were allowed to enter. That kept unwelcome people out and residents felt secured, they said.

But now, no guards man the entrance and gates at the front entrance are always up, residents said.

Residents also agreed that flooding and sewer problems also need to be addressed.

When it rains, leaves, debris and even plastic bottles and pop cans come up from the drainage pipes, resident Paul Catanese said. Water spills into the streets and lawns because of inadequate drainage, he said.

Resident Terry Maher said "a small lake" forms around his home when it rains.

And Henderson, who has had sewage in his lawn, said he once had rainwater a few inches deep enter his car.

"I've pulled garbage out of the street," Catanese said. "It flows in the street — mucky water, moldy plastic — it's all floating."

Abandoned mobile homes are used for parties, residents claim, and more stop signs and more security are needed to stop speeders.

Terry Nelson, president of the Mobile Home Owners Association of Illinois, said she is working with the homeowners to help get their problems rectified.

"When you have a community that's really upset, you don't have one or two or five people complain, you have lots of people," said Nelson, who is also the vice president of the National Manufactured Homeowners Association of America. "(The association) is behind them. They are not alone."

For many residents, improvements would be welcomed.

"Most people ignore trailer parks — trailer trash they say — but that's not true," resident Barb Blattner said.

"The majority here are nice, working-class people, and they take care of their property," resident Connie Miley said. "But when the office doesn't care, why bother?"

Michelle Mullins may be reached at mmullins@dailysouthtown.com or (708) 633-5991.