Ups and Downs - Summer 2020

By:

Steve Cain
Summer, 2020

I recently had to do an on-line refresher course on Fair Housing. Everyone in the real estate industry is supposed to know something about Fair Housing – both the legislation, and the shameful history of housing discrimination that made it necessary. Indeed, you cannot hold a real estate license in the state of Illinois without at least a cursory knowledge of this subject. Fair Housing legislation emerged from the Civil Rights movement in the 50s and 60s and is intended to provide a legal back-stop against housing discrimination and the many wrongs it created over a period of decades and even centuries.

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Verella’s Round-Up: Chicago COVID-19 Eviction Ordinance

Verella Osborne, President, Legal Document Management, Inc.

Summer, 2020

Many property owners will be surprised to learn that, with the enactment of the new Chicago COVID-19 Eviction Ordinance that was passed on June 17th, most 5-Day notices (or any demands for unpaid rent) served on Chicago residential tenants after March 21 are now null and void.

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Around Rogers Park: Elevation Lofts Leasing Up

RPBG Director and developer, Jay Johnson, reports that his Elevation Lofts building at 1531 West Howard Street is now complete and well on its way to achieving full occupancy. As last reported, the building has leased 27 of 38 units (71%) and continues to generate traffic and interest.

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Around Rogers Park: The Challenges of Running a Business during the Pandemic - Sol Café

Simone Freeman opened Sol Café in the Howard Theater building in the winter of 2012. The building is owned by Jay Johnson, founding member of RPBG. Like all restaurants and bars, Sol Café had to shut its doors in late March, due to Governor Pritzker’s “shelter in place” order.

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Around Rogers Park: Cuetzala Gro Restaurant Reopens

Block Club Chicago reports the heartwarming story of the tragedy that befell Saul Moreno – owner of Cuetzala Gro restaurant at 7360 North Clark Street – and what happened to his restaurant after his death. According to Block Club, Mr. Moreno died of the COVID-19 virus on April 15, devastating his family and seemingly putting to an end the fifteen-year run of his restaurant on North Clark Street.

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Around Rogers Park: Gun Violence Increases in 2020

Since the beginning of the year, and especially since the start of the pandemic, Chicago has experiencied a significant increase in gun violence and homicides. According to an article in the New York Times, Chicago has had 336 murders through July 2 compared to 492 murders in all of 2019.

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Coronavirus World – Adjusting to the New Reality

Remember restaurants, theaters, going to the movies, book club, poker night, backyard cookouts with the neighbors – da Cubs, da Bears, da Bulls? Remember commuting to work? For that matter (for far too many of us), remember work?

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Never Let a Good Crisis Go To Waste

Tough times can bring out the best and the worst in people. Sometimes it can be difficult to distinguish between the two.

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Interview with Daniel K. Hertz

He has only been working for the City of Chicago Department of Housing (DoH) since September of last year. But you wouldn’t know it from his deep knowledge of housing policy or the important role he plays with the Inclusionary Zoning Review process that began late in 2019. An important element in this review is the work currently being done by a 20-member Task Force assembled to make recommendations for how to revamp the Affordable Requirements Ordinance (ARO). This is just one part of a multi-prong effort to study ways to make inclusionary zoning more effective in Chicago.

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COVID-19 – Valuation Perspective

By:

Jim Kutill, Integra Realty Resources – Chicago
Spring, 2020

Lenders, owners and buyers are all asking the same question. What is my property worth now that COVID-19 has hit? Right now, honestly, the best answer is – no one really knows.

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