BJB Confirmed as Owner of Chateau Hotel

After months of secrecy and rumors, the owner of Chateau Hotel has officially been revealed as Jamie Purcell of BJB Properties, a representative with the Lakeview Action Coalition confirmed.

BJB has long been suspected of purchasing the single room occupancy hotel at 3838 N. Broadway St. However, Ald. James Cappleman (46th) said he entered an agreement with Purcell to keep his identity a secret.

Representatives with Cappleman's office could not immediately be reached for comment. 

Purcell plans to meet with local aldermen and the LAC Friday morning to talk about what the future of Chateau entails. Capplmean has confirmed in the past Purcell plans to raise rent to between $800 and $900 a month, compared to Chateau’s current highest rent of $575.

BJB and Purcell also own Lake View’s Abbott Hotel at 721 W. Belmont Ave., where the final tenants were relocated last week. There were once 100 low-income and at-risk individuals who lived at the Abbott.

Purcell’s company has a history of securing and rehabbing SRO housing units, as he recently did with the Sheffield House at 3834 N. Sheffield Ave. and the Bel-Air Hotel, 424 W. Diversey Ave.

More recent SRO news:

• Chateau in Court: New Owner Works to Fix Violations