Home for the holidays? Repairs progressing at storm-damaged Mount Prospect apartments

Mount Prospect officials say steady progress is being made toward restoration of an apartment building whose residents were left homeless after a microburst hit the structure.

The damage occurred Aug. 16 as a powerful line of thunderstorms swept through the suburbs, producing wind gusts up to 75 mph.

Bill Schroeder, Mount Prospect’s director of building and inspection services, said he hopes residents displaced by the storm will be home for Christmas. About 75 units were affected by the storm, impacting about 200 residents, he added.

“The east side (of the building) is coming together pretty well,” Schroeder told residents during a Coffee with the Council event Saturday. “The west wing is taking longer because there are multiple insurance companies (involved).”

Work has included fastening the roof better to the walls of the nearly 50-year-old building, so it prevents what is called wind upliftment.

Schroeder said the village’s human services department is still working with families who need assistance.

“We meet every week or two online, with the association and the property manager and anybody that reaches out directly,” he said.

The Mount Prospect Lions Club has donated $5,000 to help, with an additional $2,500 from District 1-F Lions of Illinois.