A group of tenants who previously lived in a Logan Square apartment building have moved out following a dispute with the property’s new owner over planned renovations and rent increases. The building, located at 3225-29 W. Belden Ave. and 2257 N. Sawyer Ave., is currently undergoing remodeling and will soon be available for new renters.
The tenants formed the Belden Sawyer Tenant Association in January 2025 after receiving non-renewal lease notices from the new owner, Andrew Millard, who intended to renovate the apartments and raise rents to market rates. The group protested through rallies, rent strikes, and social media campaigns, drawing national attention and support from elected officials and other tenant unions.
Some tenants ended up in eviction court after withholding rent during negotiations with Millard’s company. They requested reasonable rents negotiated with their union and annual lease renewals, but the owner maintained that renovations and higher rents were necessary to cover property taxes and mortgage costs.
Both parties reached a financial settlement, leading to the dismissal of eviction cases and the departure of remaining tenants in November. Sam Barth, an attorney from Law Center For Better Housing who represented the tenants, confirmed this outcome. Barth stated: “The cases [showed] two things: A rent strike is legally not protected in the City of Chicago, but two, they showed the power of tenant organizing and tenant solidarity, which nevertheless achieves some of the goals.”
Millard said he tried to negotiate with tenants by offering concessions such as moving assistance, fee waivers, and an option for former residents to return at new rental prices once renovations are complete. He also extended leases beyond what is required by local ordinance.
“If a developer is following the law that’s in place and then going above and beyond to make concessions over the law, that person shouldn’t be harassed into oblivion. From a moral standpoint, that’s wrong,” Millard said. “If the law needs to change, don’t harass us, go talk to your state, city legislators to change the law.”
Renovations are expected to finish next month. Three additional apartments are being added to the basement level—one will be offered below market rate—as part of efforts to address Chicago’s housing shortage by increasing supply.
Recent anti-gentrification legislation passed in 2024 aims to curb multi-family deconversions and restrict sales of older buildings to developers; this law took effect after Millard acquired his property.
“The goal is to always use these programs to add units, and every time we’re adding units, we’re also adding an affordability component,” Millard said. “The more resistance we get as developers by communities and all the other powers that be, the more people don’t want to develop, and then the rents keep skyrocketing.”
Former tenant Andrew Steffen described moving out as difficult: “Being forced out of your home is just a very stressful and depressing experience — one minute you are in a place that you call home, and then you’re kicked out…we’re fortunate that we want to keep on going.”
Despite relocating elsewhere on Chicago’s Northwest Side or beyond Logan Square itself, members say they intend for their association—now numbering 21 people—to continue advocating for renters’ rights across Chicago. Lead organizer David Amato said their mission includes supporting others facing displacement through educational events and sharing resources about housing issues.
“We recognized there was a gap in the Chicago tenant movement,” former resident Sarah Rooney said. “We couldn’t just keep on organizing our hyper-specific locale and we had all this experience” from last year.
The association plans its first mutual aid fundraiser Saturday at Five Point Holistic Health; proceeds will support rent assistance for Northwest Side tenants.
Efforts like those by Belden Sawyer Tenant Association highlight ongoing challenges around gentrification in neighborhoods such as Logan Square—a focal point for affordable housing advocates seeking preservation of existing multi-unit buildings amid rising costs.
Local ordinances now impose fees on teardowns of multi-unit buildings while granting tenants first right of refusal when properties are sold; city initiatives also promote construction of below-market-rate apartments.
Amato emphasized continued advocacy: “When we talk about the real estate market…the landlord industry—who’s paying for that? We are so we need to have a stronger voice…”
Tenant leaders argue for greater enforcement of existing protections under city law as well as passage of additional measures like Just Cause for Eviction Ordinance—which would require landlords provide reasons for non-renewal along with relocation help—a proposal introduced last year but stalled in City Council debate.
According to data from National Low Income Housing Coalition (https://nlihc.org/resource/just-cause-eviction-laws-exist-11-states-and-27-localities), similar Just Cause laws exist in 11 states plus 27 local jurisdictions nationwide.
Barth supports such measures: “The Just Cause for Eviction Ordinance could be a strong tool…where a new owner comes in and forces longterm tenants out,” he said while encouraging public engagement with local officials on renter issues.
This year marks four decades since passage of Chicago’s Residential Landlord & Tenant Ordinance—a milestone some see as an opportunity for renewed action on behalf of renters’ rights.
“There’s a moment here for visibility for these issues,” Barth said,“and for folks to reach out…get involved in tenant rights issues.”
