Heatwaves and air conditioners
The rent strikes have roots in early organizing efforts by the All-Chicago Tenant Alliance (ACTA) prior. One effort to organizing tenants self-titled as the "People's Cooling Army", where the ACTA provided and installed free repaired air conditioner units for low-income tenants in Humboldt, Garfield Park, and Hermosa. One organizer stated "it's a noble gesture to give away ACs, but we are in the pursuit of organizing tenants". [1]
The ACTA's cooling efforts were fully powered by AC unit donations. The ACTA was able to receive around a 100 units but with 2,000 applications in one month for AC units, handled by the then nine member group. [1] [2] The ACTA was founded in 2020 as the North Spaulding Renters Association, eventually becoming the ACTA in 2024. [1]
Planned renovations and rent hikes
On December 24, 2024 tenants of Sawyer and Belden avenues were informed that their building which had been recently purchased by Drew Millard, a private real estate investor with 33 Realty now managing the building, would be renovated. 33 Realty had been contracted to renovate the building into luxury apartments, and that all current tenants would not have their leases renewed. [3]
Facing fierce pushback from tenants, 33 Realty then sent another letter saying that residents could now extend their lease through October 2025, but a pay 25% rent increase during the period which it had been extended. Tenants of Sawyer & Belden Avenue had been paying between $1,200-1,500 for one or two bedroom apartments. After the renovations, at minimum Millard plans to charge $2,400 a month. [3]
Shortly after the change in ownership, garbage services were canceled in December with tenants told to keep their garbage in their apartments. This was fixed six days later, after a citation had been received from the Department of Streets and Sanitation. Realty 33 also violated the city's fair notice ordinance by not providing a 120 days notice to terminate a lease for those who have lived in the apartment for more for three years. [3]
In response to facing the non-renewal of their leases, residents created the Belden Sawyer Tenant Association (BSTA) Local 1, met with public officials, and publicized the conflict by placing signs in their windows. [3]
Alderman Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (of the 35th ward), who had met with the union, said, "I commend the tenants for coming together and organizing the Belden Sawyer Tenant Association because that is so critically important towards achieving housing justice" [3]
On February 10, 2025 members of the BSTA picketed outside the offices of Concord Capital and 33 Realty, both owned by Drew Millard, chanting “33, what do you say? We want to negotiate!”. On the issue resident Devon Carson said: [4]
"Drew has not communicated with us... He’s put us in contact with various people at his company, but we want to talk to him. This isn’t some mom-and-pop landlord that’s trying to make a living in Chicago. They own properties all over Indiana, Michigan and Texas, and it’s all the same story.”
