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Potential Asbestos Exposure to Residents at Grant Avenue Apartments in Chicago Heights

Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) inspectors have confirmed Ryze Properties – Homewood, LLC (Ryze), the building owner, and Outlook Design & Construction, Inc. (Outlook), the renovation contractor, conducted renovation activities in unoccupied units on the 737 side of the Grant Avenue Apartments that did not follow proper asbestos remediation protocols. 

As a result, there is a potential risk that residents of the 737 side have been exposed to asbestos. An inspection and air sampling showed there was no contamination in the 747 building.

Illinois EPA has ordered Ryze and Outlook to stop all renovation work.  Federal and Illinois law requires Ryze and Outlook to complete a full, approved remediation, cleanup, and resident relocation process to properly and safely remove asbestos containing materials. 

The Illinois EPA has informed Ryze and Outlook that residents living in the 737 building will need to be relocated to protect them from any asbestos exposure during the remediation process. Residents’ belongings will also need to be professionally cleaned to remove any potential asbestos.

Site Location & Background 

The Grant Avenue Apartments, located at 737-747 Grant Avenue in Chicago Heights (Cook County), is a three story, 30-unit residential building. The property is owned by Ryze, a Chicago based company. Renovation work at the building was being performed by Outlook, which is an Illinois contractor. 

On March 9, Illinois EPA received a complaint about renovation activities underway at the Grant Avenue apartment complex involving the improper disturbance of asbestos. The Illinois EPA Bureau of Air Asbestos Unit (Asbestos Unit) spoke with the complainant the same day and gathered information to open an investigation. 

During the investigation, Illinois EPA learned in January 2026, the property manager notified tenants about upcoming renovations in selected apartments. Tenants living in units scheduled for construction were relocated to other vacant units within the complex. Renovations then began in the vacated units while other tenants continued living in their occupied apartments.

During the renovation process, the units were not properly sealed, allowing asbestos fibers to potentially spread into the rest of the building. 

The Illinois EPA did not receive the required notification of the renovation activities before they began. Neither the property owner nor the renovation contractor filed the notification of renovation activities as required by the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (Asbestos NESHAP) for projects that may disturb regulated asbestos-containing material. 

On March 11, two days after the Agency received the complaint, the Asbestos Unit spoke with the construction contractor, Outlook, and received a copy of a 2025 asbestos inspection that sampled two pipes and a rope in the basement of the facility. The Asbestos Unit advised Outlook the report was not comprehensive and did not meet the requirement for renovations under the Asbestos NESHAP. The Asbestos Unit advised Outlook to stop all work and leave all impacted building materials on site until an Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) licensed asbestos inspection took place. 

The next day, an IDPH-licensed inspector collected samples from four apartments under renovation at the apartment complex. Those results found asbestos in living room plasters, kitchen floor tile glue, bathroom plaster, and bathroom floor tile, as well as in kitchen plasters. 

On March 18, the Illinois EPA inspected the apartment complex noting disturbed asbestos-containing materials inside multiple units in the 737 Grant Avenue building. The inspectors also noted inside the dumpster there were materials that could contain asbestos. The Illinois EPA has since directed the dumpster be covered and secured. 

Further air testing showed that the 747 Grant Avenue building was not contaminated, and the improper disturbance of asbestos was only located in the 737 building. 

What is Asbestos?  

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral found in certain rocks that was once commonly used in building materials, particularly before the mid-1970s and occasionally until the late 1980s. It was used because it is strong, fire-and-corrosion-resistant, and a good insulator. 

If asbestos-containing material (ACM) is in good condition and left in place, it should not present health risks. However, if and when ACM is damaged or crumbling, or if a building is demolished, renovated, or remodeled, care must be taken to prevent the release of asbestos fibers into the air. Inhalation of microscopic asbestos fibers from friable ACM (ACM that crumbles, breaks, or frays with little effort) can cause health risks.  

Because asbestos presents a significant risk to human health when released into the air, asbestos is considered a hazardous air pollutant regulated under the NESHAP regulations. 

The Illinois EPA is the delegated authority to enforce the Asbestos NESHAP for regulated asbestos during demolition, renovation, and disposal. This authority is managed by the Illinois EPA Asbestos Unit. 

Current Action & Remediation 

The Illinois EPA has directed Ryze and Outlook to immediately halt all renovation activities and develop a comprehensive asbestos remediation plan. 

Due to the extent of renovation activity and the risk of asbestos contamination throughout the building, the Illinois EPA is requiring Ryze and Outlook to temporarily relocate those tenants living at the 737 building so the property can be safely cleaned and remediated.  This relocation is necessary to protect tenants from possible asbestos exposure resulting from past renovation work and to ensure the building is safe for future occupancy. 

Tenants are strongly advised not to remove belongings from their units before professional cleaning takes place. This is to prevent the spread of any potential asbestos fibers and to ensure that items are properly handled during the remediation process.

Ryze and Outlook are responsible for hiring qualified state-licensed asbestos contractors and for ensuring all work complies with IDPH regulations and the federal Asbestos NESHAP standards. 

These workers must be properly trained and must wear protective gear while they are inside the building doing remediation work. Illinois EPA has instructed Ryze and Outlook to not remove any equipment, tools, materials, or other items from the building unless approved ahead of time by the Agency.  

Illinois EPA will continue to oversee the remediation process to ensure the work is completed correctly and safely. 

Enforcement Referral  

The Illinois EPA referred this enforcement action against Ryze and Outlook to the Illinois AGO, citing violations of the Illinois Environmental Protection Act, the Asbestos NESHAP, and Illinois Pollution Control Board regulations.  

Asbestos Exposure Health Guidance

The Illinois EPA and Attorney General’s Office have coordinated with the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) to provide residents with information for steps to take after possible asbestos exposure. The IDPH encourages residents with potential asbestos exposure related to improper renovation activities to obtain a medical evaluation from their doctor or a clinic that specializes in environmental medicine. The IDPH has provided the following for residents: 

 

Questions & Answers

Where will I be relocated?

Ryze is currently working on a relocation plan that will have to be submitted to the Illinois EPA and Illinois AGO for approval. For questions on relocation, Ryze has provided the following contact for tenants to reach out to: Cynthia Jackson, Relocation Consultant, 773-335-7022.

What are the current on-site activities? What is the progress of the cleanup?  

Illinois EPA has advised that all renovation work should stop. Currently, Illinois EPA and the Illinois AGO are awaiting approvable relocation, cleaning, and project design plans that are protective to the environment and public health. 

How can I stay updated on current activities and the updated plans?  

The Illinois EPA will post any new information related to this case on this website.  If you would like to be added to a mailing list to be notified as details are released, send an email with the subject line stating ‘Grant Avenue Apartments’ to epa.contactus@illinois.gov. 

Why will I need to be relocated if Ryze/Outlook did not perform renovation work in my specific unit?  

Even if asbestos was not disturbed in your specific unit, tenants who lived in the 737 side of the complex must be temporarily relocated because renovation activities elsewhere in the building may have released asbestos fibers into shared areas. Hallways, elevators, and other common spaces can allow dust and fibers to travel between units, even if your unit appears unaffected. To properly clean and remediate the building, Illinois-licensed asbestos professionals need full access to all units and common areas, and no residents can be present during this work. Vacating ensures that no one is exposed during cleanup, allows contractors to safely reach all potentially contaminated areas, and ensures the building can pass clearance testing before anyone returns. 

Why doesn’t the 747 side of the complex need to temporarily relocate or have remediation completed? 

There was no known disturbance of asbestos-containing materials on the 747 side and aggressive air clearance testing conducted by a licensed asbestos contractor on March 30 and reviewed by the Illinois EPA showed no contamination in the 747 wing of the building.  The two sides of the building are sufficiently separated from one another, including having independent HVAC systems, which prevents air movement between them. Because of this physical separation and clean test results, the 747 side does not require relocation or remediation.

What are the general risks of asbestos exposure?  

Exposure to asbestos increases the risk of developing serious lung diseases, and that risk is made worse by smoking. The greater and longer the exposure, the higher the chance of harmful health effects. Symptoms of asbestos-related illness can take many years to appear, and these conditions can be difficult to diagnose. Healthcare providers typically identify potential asbestos exposure by reviewing a person’s medical, work, and environmental history, and may use tools such as physical exams, chest X-rays, or lung function tests. Major health effects linked to asbestos exposure include lung cancer, mesothelioma (a rare cancer of the lining of the lungs and abdomen), and asbestosis (a long-term, progressive lung disease).

For more please read the following:  

 

 

Does the Illinois EPA have plans to remediate the asbestos contamination at the apartment complex in the near future?  

The parties responsible, Ryze and Outlook, must hire an approved, Illinois-licensed asbestos contractor, that will perform remediation, although a plan must first be submitted to and approved by the Illinois EPA.  

Is there a timeline for working to address the issue? What are the steps involved in handling this problem?  

Ryze and Outlook must submit an approvable plan to remediate the contamination before a timeline can be constructed. Ryze and Outlook must hire an approved, licensed asbestos contractor to perform remediation and remaining abatement. Sampling and aggressive air clearance testing will then be performed to verify it is properly abated. The Agency will continue to provide updates on remediation on its website.   

Documents and Resources

Contact Information: 

Illinois EPA 

Illinois Attorney General's Office