Tenants at a 51-story condo tower in River North say the balconies outside their units are literally falling apart, with chunks of concrete breaking loose on every floor and exposing rusted metal rods underneath. At 10 E. Ontario St., residents describe the problem, while building management offers no clear timeline for repairs.
The building, known as Ontario Place, was constructed in 1983 and holds 467 units, according to Homes.com. As reported by CBS News Chicago, tenants say concrete pieces are falling from balconies throughout the tower, leaving exposed rods behind. One balcony has been blocked off entirely with caution tape, with a gaping hole where the concrete used to be.
Residents Brandon Rubly and Vinay Naring both told the station the condition of the balconies is far from ideal. Naring said the situation could be better, while Rubly said plainly that it is not ideal — modest words for a problem that has left some units with extra structural rods, per the same CBS report.
Engineer Warns of Life-Threatening Risk
Mae Whiteside Williams, founder and CEO of CKL Engineers, told CBS News Chicago that fractured concrete sections at the slab edges could break loose at any moment, potentially falling onto lower balconies or the public right-of-way below. She also warned that rust expansion inside the structure could cause surrounding concrete to break loose entirely.
The station's report also quotes concern that the balcony conditions could create a potential loss of life if a resident steps outside without realizing there is no concrete floor left to stand on. Tenants say all they are asking for is a balcony that is sturdy and supportive enough that it will not fall.
City Rules Require Strict Inspection Timelines
Chicago has specific, legally mandated inspection schedules for exactly this kind of structural wear. Under Chicago Construction Codes Section 14A-6-603.3, exposed metal structures such as metal balconies and fire escapes must be examined by a registered design professional within two years of installation and at least once every five years after that, according to American Legal Publishing. Separately, the city's Exterior Wall Program under Municipal Code Section 14A-6-603.2 requires buildings taller than 80 feet to undergo periodic visual assessments or close-up critical examinations by a licensed architect or structural engineer, per SGH.
Those same high-rise exterior wall rules require building owners and licensed inspectors to report any unsafe and imminently hazardous condition to the city's Department of Buildings within 24 hours, and to take immediate temporary stabilization steps while repairs are arranged.
Why Chicago Takes Balcony Safety So Seriously
Chicago's intense focus on exterior structural inspections traces back to one of the deadliest building failures in American history. On June 29, 2003, a third-floor porch collapse in Lincoln Park killed 13 people and injured 57, according to CBS News, remaining the deadliest porch collapse ever recorded in the United States and prompting sweeping citywide inspection reforms. In the years following that disaster, annual porch and balcony code violations cited by Chicago inspectors fell from 6,670 in 2006 to 2,127 in 2019, per Akats Construction.
Board, Management and the City Weigh In
Because 10 E. Ontario St. operates as a condominium tower, its board is aware of the balcony issue. Apartments in the building lease for over $2,200 a month, while units are listed for sale between roughly $250,000 and about $1.5 million, according to the CBS Chicago report.
The building's management company told CBS News Chicago that the board is aware of the balcony issue but that there is currently no timeline for repairs, and that it is trying to find a company capable of completing the work. The Department of Buildings told the station it looked into the balcony issue, though no further detail on findings or citations was provided. For now, tenants are left watching the concrete crumble, waiting for a fix with no date attached.
