Chateau Hotel: ‘I’m Not Very Optimistic’

Local aldermen and housing advocates met with the Chateau Hotel’s newly announced owner Jamie Purcell Friday morning, but according to the organization, Purcell isn’t leaving much room for negotiations.

Affordable housing advocates Lakeview Action Coalition joined Ald. Tom Tunney (44th) and Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd) to discuss BJB Properties’ plans for the Chateau, as well as many other single-room occupancy hotels in Lake View.

Ald. James Cappleman (46th) was not invited to this meeting. The organization says they’ve tried sitting down with him multiple times in the past.

LAC organizers presented 10 things they’d like to see at SROs in the community—like keeping both the Chateau and Abbott Hotel as 100 percent affordable housing—but Purcell stood his ground.

“He, just as a blanket statement, said no to everything,” said LAC organizer Mary Tarullo.

Other items on their list included waiving credit checks for tenants and criminal background checks that only go back two years, disregarding misdemeanors and nonviolent felonies.

The one thing Purcell said he would consider over the next few weeks are the various housing subsidies, like Chicago Housing Authority’s Property Rental Assistance and CHA housing vouchers.

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And while representatives with LAC said “We are disappointed with the result of our meeting,” Tunney said it was a step in the right direction.

“We’ve agreed to keep meeting,” Tunney said. “… It was a good meeting. We’re trying to make sure Mr. Purcell is aware of all the programs that are available.”

Between the Sheffield House, Bel-Air Hotel, Abbott Hotel, Ambers Hotel and now Chateau Hotel, BJB Properties has purchased and transformed five SROs in Lake View, accounting for roughly 700 housing units. It was once said the Abbott Hotel would be flipped and transformed into a new SRO, but those will actually be market rate units. 

With the numbers changing every day, organizers couldn’t say exactly how many residents still live at the Chateau, estimating its now between 30 and 60. A 1 p.m. meeting was scheduled at the hotel to inform current residents what their options are.

But for now, it’s a waiting game, LAC says. Purcell has three to four weeks until the group meets again, but according to representative Norm Kaeseberg, things look tough.

“I’m not very optimistic.”

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