Residents urged to stay off balconies at Arlington Heights' Brook Run
Property managers from the Brook Run Apartments and the village of Arlington Heights are urging residents in the complex to stay off their balconies and the patios beneath them.
On Saturday morning, a balcony at one of the two-story units at 2728 N. Buffalo Grove Road collapsed, injuring two people.
The accident, according to Arlington Heights fire officials, involved a 24-year-old woman and a male guest, who landed on a concrete patio.
Both were transported to Northwest Community Hospital. Arlington Heights police Cmdr. Nicholas Pecora said one of them suffered a broken leg.
Resident Dan Hoyer said signs were posted Saturday on all the doors advising the residents not to go on their balconies until further notice.
"I wasn't too keen on that, but it's wintertime. So you don't really use your balcony all that much," Hoyer said.
Hoyer said that some balconies were replaced toward the end of the summer.
He said the management company, AIMCO Property Management Inc., has done a good job with the property.
"I have mentioned a couple things here or there about things that seemed unsafe, and they repaired them relatively quickly," he said.
The remains of the collapsed balcony were resting near a bicycle rack Sunday morning. An examination revealed rotting within a portion of the wood.
Judging from the forensic photographs, Percora said there was evidence of rotting on the support pillars. He said the village building department consulted with the property managers to develop language for the signs that were posted, which advised not to use the balcony until a structural engineer evaluates it for structural integrity.
Residents also were advised not to go on first-floor patios because of the possible risk of having the balcony collapse on top of them.
Hoyer, who has lived there a little more than a year, said he always sees management personnel driving around in carts and taking care of maintenance.
"It's not like they neglect the place," he said.
He said he likes to enjoy his balcony during the summer and has always felt safe using it.
"They're only two-story buildings, so I didn't take too much concern in it."
Resident Dean Avrokotos said he heard the fire engines Saturday but has yet to hear from the management company, other than the sign on the door.
"I never had an issue with stuff like that with them," he said. "It just was a shocker, you know, yesterday, hearing all the engines."
Management company officials did not answer calls Sunday.