I moved to Chicago in February of 2012, finally escaping the rather mundane confines of New Jersey's Ocean County. I had been employed at the Forked River Nuclear Power Plant, which was decommissioned around 2018, if memory serves. The ennui of living in such a dull area had become unbearable.

Initially, I resided with a photographer, but I soon began exploring other living arrangements. While perusing Craigslist for available rooms, I stumbled upon a captivating listing. Despite encountering silence from other inquiries, I persisted, reaching out repeatedly over the span of a week or two.

Finally, I received a response from Phil, the individual managing the place. We scheduled a meeting, and that's when I first set foot in the historic 660 West Lake in Chicago. At the time, there were five residents: Phil, Big Tony, Little Tony, Brandon, and Zakk, along with the ever-present canine, Xeba.

The front section of the loft, totaling nearly 4000 square feet, housed a recording studio, a bedroom, and various other spaces. Towards the rear were the kitchen, bedrooms, bathroom, and a sizable common area. Renowned as an after-hours venue, 660 West Lake had been operating since the era of The Warehouse and Frankie Knuckles. Rumor is that R. Kelley played our piano! Intrigued by the vibe and my rapport with Phil, I decided to move in by October 2012.

During that period, numerous figures from the electronic music scene frequented the place, launching their careers. While I aim to compile a comprehensive list through my friend Andy Stroble, some notable names include Andy Stroble himself, Adam Nelson, and Eddy York. The loft was covered with murals of Alex Chadwick.

Fast forward to August 2013, when financial troubles befell the owners, the Koulioufas family, resulting in impending tax foreclosure. Although details about a potential short sale remain murky, the property changed hands among various LLCs, likely to mitigate liabilities.

Subsequently, realtors Anthony Rouches, Eric Johnstone, and their associate Bayron Parker hatched a scheme to evict us tenants for non-compliance with their timeline. Under the guise of inspections, they introduced unwelcome occupants into the premises, exploiting Chicago's lenient squatter laws. Returning home one day, I found my belongings either being removed or already gone, with the authorities seemingly complicit in the process. The police are supposed to aggressively support tenants when a landlord locks one out but these guys just seemed to be working for the other side. I filed a police inquiry board complaint but it was just brushed aside.

Despite my efforts to negotiate and document rent payments, I was summarily ousted. Engaging attorney Larry Meyer, we initiated legal action, but his subsequent disbarment left us in a lurch. Eventually, we found representation in Joan Fenstermaker around spring/summer 2016.

The legal battle dragged on, culminating in a ruling in August 2023, nearly a decade after 660 West Lake's demise. Regrettably, the labyrinth of LLCs shielded the perpetrators from accountability, and our evidence fell short. We know what they did though.

While Anthony Rouches seemingly evaded consequences, Eric Johnstone relocated to the west coast of Michigan but also got let off the hook without a scratch, engaging in a business venture involving a marina. Our case garnered some attention, and further details can be found through a simple online search. Anthony is still a realtor and in Chicago. I ran into him at the dog beach with my pig once and in an elevator at a mid rise I lived at probably showing someone a unit.

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Joan Fenstermaker for her unwavering dedication throughout the protracted legal ordeal. It's my hope to reconnect with individuals from that chapter and contribute to documenting the legacy of 660 West Lake, perhaps even on Wikipedia someday. I still see a few of them and they are still up to the same kind of things. Maybe someone wants to interview Anthony and Eric? I'm sure you can find them with the links a bit up.

Keep an eye out on this post as I hope to update it over time and my blog for more info on 660 West Lake.

HS,

Kenneth William Mayle