Tenants of the Chaney Braggs Apartments at 1554-56 E 65th St. are speaking out after they say they are in jeopardy of being displaced. According to residents of the building, a prospective buyer for the property has threatened to gut, rehab, or demolish the building and, in turn, increase the rent.
This comes as the Obama Presidential Center gears up for its grand opening in June.
“Community members have been warning about this for a decade, since the Obama Center has been announced,” Infiniti Gant, an organizer with the housing advocacy group Southside Together, said during a press conference outside the property on Thursday.
Tenants of the property, which sits just three blocks from the Obama Center, said they have worked to maintain upkeep at the building after the owner “disappeared.”
Organizers said the families occupy 20 out of the 24 units in the property and all tenants are part of the union. Some of the tenants have lived at the property for 40 years. According to organizers, the prospective buyer, who is based in California, did a walk-through in December and tried to offer money to the residents to move out of the property.
“The new owner is not trying to offer the tenants a right to come back to this building. He started with a cash offer of only $2,000,” Kyana Butler, 31, a longtime resident of the property, said. We go to church in this community. Our kids go to school here, our kids play here. We go to the park. The field house is right down the street. So yes, I want to stay.”
The union is demanding that the prospective buyer keep the rent at the same affordable price, all maintenance issues be addressed, and calling upon political leaders, including Mayor Brandon Johnson, State Rep. Kam Buckner (D-26), and Ald. Desmon Yancy (5th Ward) to address the issues.
“It’s my understanding that the prospective owners stated in open court that they have no plans to demolish the building and plan to keep it 100% affordable,” Yancy said in a text message to The TRiiBE. “I will stand with the tenants’ union to make sure we hold them accountable.”
The building was last owned by the Woodlawn East Community and Neighbors (WECAN) Development Corporation. The nonprofit has operated the building since the 90s, according to paperwork from the Cook County Clerk’s Office. According to documentation from the Circuit Court of Cook County, a notice of foreclosure was filed in 2023. Further documentation from the Circuit Court shows that the city ordered a limited receiver for the property in December.
“The City of Chicago has been steadfast in its pursuit of ensuring the safety of the tenants who call this building home. The City has conducted ongoing inspections at this location to ensure the safety of the tenants, and a receiver was appointed to address the unsafe conditions in the building,” the Department of Buildings said in a statement. “In addition to active litigation, the company that currently owns the property, WECAN Development Corporation, is on the City’s Scofflaw list. The next court date is scheduled for 3/10/2026.”
According to Gant, the property is part of the Illinois Housing Development Authority’s portfolio and is under contract to remain a low-income property until 2032, with tenants paying between $700 and $800 for one and two-bedroom units. Gant said that the prospective buyers would increase the rents to up to $1,400 for a one-bedroom.
The Woodlawn Housing Ordinance was passed in 2020 as part of the Obama Community Benefits Agreement to provide residents with housing protections with the development of the Obama Presidential Center. The Jackson Park Ordinance was passed this past September.
“We have been talking about how there is a danger that the center will displace community members if we do not act to have provisions to make sure that people can stay,” Gant said. “We have started, but it’s still not enough.”
The Obama Foundation has hosted information sessions promoting the conversion of properties into Airbnbs, which was criticized by residents and organizers.
“We need more to make sure everyone who wants to stay here is able to stay and benefit from the Obama Center coming to the neighborhood,” Gant said.
This article has been updated to reflect all demands of the union and to include concerns of demolition of the property.
