Cook County Stimulus and Revitalization Project – Acquiring Vacant Properties

The Cook County Stimulus and Revitalization Project (CCSRP) plans to incorporate integrative professions in the fields like economic development, marketing , communications, finance, real estate, information technology, urban planning, healthcare administration, public administration, and law.

 The CCSRP assists municipalities in acquiring vacant and abandoned tax delinquent commercial and industrial properties.  Once these properties are acquired, they are developed and returned to the tax rolls. This helps expand the tax base and lessens the tax burden on homeowners.  The project also creates new, sustainable jobs and enhances the quality of life in the affected communities.    

The project plans to work with local University students who will get credit for internships.  The group will not provide monetary compensation to its interns but they will gain valuable experience in their respective fields which will help them as they work to achieve their future career goals.  The students will play a key role in helping the CCSRP obtain its objectives and their participation will help ameliorate foreclosure/abandonment rates, eliminate blight, and work towards revitalizing Cook County as a whole.

More details will come soon…..

Foreclosures In Cook County — 2011

Lynn Reidl and her team are RealtyTrac members so be sure to connect with us about foreclosure properties available.

Cook County Foreclosure Information:

Chicago Local Foreclosure Rate:
http://www.realtytrac.com/trendcenter/uiservices/heatmap.aspx?width=640&address=chicago,il

Also we thought you might be interested in this cool new Techie Visionary Apps’ Complete Foreclosures App Now Exclusively Powered by RealtyTrac® Data

By Visionary Apps & RealtyTrac Staff
July 19, 2011
Visionary Apps LLC today announced that its popular Complete Foreclosures application (app) for the iPhone and iPad is now exclusively powered by data from RealtyTrac. One of the many new features is the RealtyTrac® Single Property Record Purchase feature which will allow Complete Foreclosures to offer full details on EVERY listing, whereas before some of the property listings only had partial details. RealtyTrac data will allow the free Complete Foreclosures app to significantly increase its 25 data fields to up to 75 data fields, and instantly bring the best foreclosure data available for over 1.5 million default, auction and bank-owned and property records

Wachovia Bank Offering A Graceful Exit Strategy for Homeowners

Whether your loan is delinquent, has been declined for a modification, or is in foreclosure, there may be an option you have not considered if you cannot or prefer not to stay in your home — a Short Sale.

In the past, everyone on my real estate team has found short sales, well let’s just say they are not short in duration.  Yet, our clients have benefited from the short selling process: Less severe reduction in credit score and a full deficiency of the unpaid portion of your loan has been waived. It is common practice for the bank to pay attorney and real estate sales commissions.

Currently the government also allows the owner occupied home, that receives a short-sale, no major tax ramifications (meaning you won’t pay taxes on the unpaid balance). We do recommend that you consult a professional tax accountant if you have further specific tax questions.

So is a short sale right for you? Are you looking for a graceful exit strategy?

A recent change for a couple of banks, one which is Wachovia bank, is a new streamlined process. They will give a sort of “pre-approval” price and conditions before we even get a contract from the new buyer. This is new to Illinois but from my meeting with the bank managers, it will benefit owners who are underwater on their home value and looking to short sell. For those who have Wachovia loans and qualify for a short sale, you will find:

FREE – No Cost to You.
Late Payments not Required.
Save Your Credit.
Confidential and Dignified Solution.
Fast and Easy Qualification.
All Loan Deficiencies waived.
7-10 Day Approval possible.

The Lynn Reidl Team is quite experienced in short sales: We make it easy – we do everything except organize your paperwork This new streamlined process by specific banks makes it easier on the seller. Contact the Lynn Reidl Team of Dream Town Realty to discuss your options. 773.343.8879 or lreidl@dreamtown.com

What’s the Illinois Gov’t Up to with your real estate ownership rights?

Owning real estate carries with it a traditional “bundle of legal rights” transferred with the property from seller to buyer.

These are the recognized rights of the holder of title to the property and include:
the right of possession – the property is owned by whomever holds title
the right of control – within the laws, the owner controls the use of the property
the right of exclusion – others can be excluded from using or entering the property
the right of enjoyment – the owner can enjoy the use of the property in any legal manner
the right of disposition – the title holder can sell, rent or transfer ownership or use of the property at will

Thanks for the message contained here that was provided by the Illinois Association of REALTORS about what the Illinois Government is up to in regards to ownership and other real estate related issues.

“Today marked the deadline for all bills to be voted out of the chamber of origin. A collective deep breath was taken by all in the Capitol as the chambers reached the halfway point in this busy 2011 spring session. The House will be off for one week and the Senate for two weeks for spring recess. Following the spring recess, the House will take up consideration of Senate bills and the Senate will consider House bills. This issue of State Capitol Report highlights key issues that were acted upon this week.

CALL TO ACTION UPDATE
Many thanks to the nearly 3,000 members who responded to our Call-to-Action in opposition to House Bill 760 and House Bill 1109 this week. Neither bill was called for a final vote this week HOWEVER, there is the opportunity for Representative Yarbrough, the chief sponsor of both measures, to extend the deadline for final consideration. We will keep you posted on such action if it occurs.

LAND BANK AUTHORITIES
House Bill 760 authorizes all municipalities to establish a Land Bank Authority (LBA). The IAR continues to reiterate our belief that this is not a wise or necessary direction for the state to head in to deal with vacant and abandoned property resulting from the current foreclosure crisis. IAR also believes that local governments currently have a wide array of powers to clean up abandoned property, recover their costs, and return the property to productive use; these powers were recently enhanced in 2009 to give local governments even more authority. As a reminder, the LBA concept differs from current redevelopment laws in that it puts local government in the role of the real estate developer- and allows the establishment of a separate government entity whose sole purpose is the acquisition and development of real estate. A more detailed position paper on HB 760, which explains the issue and the IAR opposition, is available at the IAR Action Center on our website.

MAINTENANCE AND SECURING OF VACANT PROPERTY
The IAR is also STRONGLY OPPOSED to House Bill 1109. HB 1109 would add a new section to the Municipal Code to give ALL municipalities a sweeping and unlimited grant of authority to pass ordinances and fees regarding the maintenance and security of vacant property. This legislation would seem to cast aside the extensive body of law already in the Municipal Code (Division 31) which grants all municipalities extensive powers and remedies regarding abandoned property. Importantly, while Division 31 grants extensive remedies, including superior liens and the ability to demolish and/or take possession of certain properties, it also includes important due process provisions. HB 1109 not only does not include sufficient due process protections for the property owners, it puts lenders and their agents, not the municipality, in the position of entering private property to enforce compliance with whatever the rules and regulations might be, and exempts the lenders and agents from claims for negligence, and criminal and civil trespass laws for entering property. A more complete position paper on this measure is also available at the IAR Action Center on the IAR website.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT MEASURES OPPOSED BY IAR STALLED IN HOUSE
House Bill 1323, OPPOSED by the IAR and a wide variety of business groups, which sought to grant ALL municipalities the authority to license and regulate all businesses within their corporate limits was not called by the sponsor due to the significant opposition and the bill is now DEAD. Two measures related to the granting of the authority for a local government to collect costs associated with nuisances on property tax bills are also DEAD. This concept has been OPPOSED by the IAR in previous sessions and both House Bill 1384 and House Bill 3407 were similarly OPPOSED this year and neither sponsor called the bill prior to today’s deadline for final consideration. Two similar bills- Senate Bill 1650 (Wilhelmi) and House Bill 2848 (Schmitz) – were similarly not called and are also DEAD.

TITLE INSURANCE RULES
This week the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) was scheduled to hear the second notice posting of the proposed rules under the Title Insurance Act regarding closing protection letters. While this is typically the stage at which JCAR signs off on and approves rules, JCAR withheld its approval and postponed the rulemaking to its meeting next month due to IAR’s opposition to the rules. As you will recall, this rulemaking, in essence, requires title companies to charge buyers at least $25 dollars and sellers at least $50 for the closing protection letter they are required to provide pursuant to Public Act 96-1454. The rule will eventually become effective UNLESS an extraordinary majority (8 of the 12 JCAR members) vote to prohibit the filing. JCAR members are: Representatives Saviano, Greg Harris, Lang, Moffitt, Mulligan, Thapedi and Senators Crotty, Althoff, Harmon, John O. Jones, Righter and Silverstein.

IAR SSA INITIATIVE ADVANCES
Senate Bill 1804, an initiative of the IAR, was unanimously approved by the Senate this week. SB 1804, sponsored by Senator Pam Althoff, adds a new Section to the Property Tax Code to make null and void any deed restriction, restrictive covenant or similar provision that waives, prohibits or restricts the right to receive notice of a public hearing or the right to object, oppose or challenge the creation of a SSA, the levy of any tax of a SSA or the issuance of bonds of a SSA. No House sponsor has been named for this bill as of today.

EVICTIONS FOR CRIMINAL ACTIVITY
Senate Bill 1766, sponsored by Senator A.J. Wilhelmi, was approved this week in the Senate on a roll call vote of 52-4-0. This bill amends the eviction provisions for engaging in criminal conduct under the Code of Civil Procedure to provide that a written lease shall notify the tenant that if they use or permit the use of the premises for a felony or Class A misdemeanor the landlord may void the lease and evict the tenant. However, the bill specifies that if the language is not included or if there is an oral lease it does not impair the landlord’s rights. The bill also provides that the attorney for the municipality in which the property is located can pursue an eviction on behalf of the landlord- with the landlord’s permission. This legislation, and a similar bill in the House (HB 1309-DeLuca), are SUPPORTED by the IAR and represent an alternative approach to the landlord licensing proposals we have seen in the past. SB 1766 now moves to the House for consideration and Representative Anthony DeLuca will be the sponsor. HB 1309 remains a work in progress.

REPEAT OFFENDERS OF COUNTY PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODES
House Bill 1909 was approved by the House this week on a roll call vote of 97-13-0 after Representative Jehan Gordon worked with the IAR and other interested parties to address our concerns. The bill will permit a code enforcement officer to issue a notice to appear for repeat offenders of an adopted county property maintenance code. The bill spells out what must be in the notice. No Senate sponsor has been designated to date.

FORECLOSED PROPERTIES – PAYMENT OF STATE TRANSFER TAX
House Bill 3199, was amended further this week but the bill was held in the House pending further negotiations. You will recall that this bill amends the Property Tax Code to remove the exemption from the state’s Real Estate Transfer Tax law for foreclosed properties. The House Housing Committee approved an additional amendment to provide for the distribution of the funds collected under these types of transactions- 50% of the proceeds will be deposited into the Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund; 35% into the Open Space Lands Development and Acquisition Fund; and 15% into the Natural Areas Acquisition Fund. As you may be aware, proceeds from the State’s Real Estate Transfer Tax is also split between various funds. The IAR is NEUTRAL.
SHORT SALES
The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 1259 this week, a measure related to short sales. SB 1259, sponsored by Senator Ira Silverstein, adds a new section to the Code of Civil Procedure to define “short sale” and to specify that in a foreclosure of residential property, if (i) the mortgagor presents to the mortgagee, a bona fide written offer from a third party to purchase the property that is the subjection of the foreclosure proceeding, (ii) the written offer to purchase is for an amount which constitutes a short sale of the property, and (iii) the mortgagor makes a written request to the mortgagee to approve the sale on the terms of the offer to purchase, the mortgagee must respond to the mortgagor within 90 days after receipt of the written offer and written request. The mortgagee shall determine whether to accept the short sale offer. The legislation further provides that the failure to accept the offer shall not impair or abrogate in any way the rights of the mortgagee or affect the status of the foreclosure proceedings. Lastly, the bill states that the 90-day period shall not operate as a stay of the proceeding. The IAR is NEUTRAL. No House sponsor has been determined as of today.

REGULATION OF APPRAISAL MANAGEMENT COMPANIES
Two companion bills were approved in their respective chamber of origin this week dealing with the regulation of Appraisal Management Companies (AMCs). Senate Bill 1539, sponsored by Senator Iris Martinez was approved in the Senate on a roll call vote of 43-10-2 and House Bill 2956, sponsored by Representative Skip Saviano, was approved in the House on a roll call vote of 83-22-1. New federal laws require appraiser independence and mortgage lenders commonly arrange for appraisals through AMCs. But there are concerns that the AMC process can lead to assigning appraisers to unfamiliar areas and that AMCs can result in unnecessary costs and delays in transactions. The IAR SUPPORTS the enactment of a regulatory statute and continues to work with other interested parties in the passage of a bill this spring session.

AUCTIONEER LICENSURE AND REAL PROPERTY
House Bill 1723, sponsored by Representative Jim Sacia, amends the Auction License Act. The IAR is OPPOSED to an effort by the Illinois Auctioneers Association to exempt auctioneers who sell real estate from the Real Estate License Act and to require real estate licensees who sell real property at auction to have an auctioneer’s license. These proposals were initially going to be embodied in HB 1723, but Representative Jim Sacia, the sponsor of the bill, amended the bill to include only a technical disciplinary provision in the Act. The bill will be a placeholder for further discussion between the IAR and the auctioneers on this issue. This measure was unanimously approved this week in the House and negotiations are continuing. No Senate sponsor has been identified to date.

RECORDS OF IDFPR ACTIONS
House Bill 1973 was approved this week in the House on a roll call vote of 83-32-1. The bill, sponsored by Representative Skip Saviano, provides that any licensee subject to a licensing Act administered by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) who has been subject to a disciplinary action may file an application with the Department along with a $200 fee to have the record classified as confidential, not for public release and considered expunged for reporting purposes. This would apply if (1) the application is submitted more than 7 years after the disciplinary offense occurred; (2) the licensee has had no incidents of discipline under the licensing Act since the offenses identified in the application occurred; the Department has no pending investigations against the licensee; and the licensee is not currently in a disciplinary status. The bill also limited the offenses or actions that an application may be made to: (1) failure to pay taxes, child support or student loans; (2) continuing education; (3) failure to renew a license on time; (4) failure to obtain or renew a certificate of registration or ancillary license; (5) advertising; or (6) any grounds for discipline removed from the licensing Act. It should also be noted that none of the provisions apply to persons or entities licensed under the Real Estate Appraiser Licensing Act. The IAR is NEUTRAL. This bill has not been picked up by a sponsor in the Senate.

HOMEOWNERS’ ENERGY POLICY STATEMENTS
The House unanimously approved House Bill 991 this week to expand an energy policy statement provisions for homeowner associations, common interest community associations and condominium associations to include wind energy collection devices, rain water collection devices and composting systems. Representative Carol Sente, the chief sponsor, reiterated that for these added elements, the homeowner’s, common interest community or condominium association could prohibit these if they so chose or, if allowed, that the location, design and architectural requirements for these systems be in the energy policy statement. You will recall that the IAR was opposed to the initial draft of the proposal but worked with Representative Sente to modify the provisions and with the changes we are NEUTRAL. Senator Pam Althoff will sponsor this measure in the Senate.

COUNTY STORMWATER MANAGEMENT/FEES
House Bill 3372 was approved by the House this week on a roll call vote of 73-43-0. The intent of the bill is to establish a mechanism to allow identified urbanized counties to opt for a different method of paying for costs related to stormwater management and mitigation and to provide incentives to use approved green infrastructure management devices. Currently certain counties have the authority to enact a property tax (in the collar counties) or either a property tax or sales tax (after the approval of the voters) in the counties of Madison, St. Clair, Monroe, Kankakee, Grundy, LaSalle, DeKalb, Kendall, or Boone for costs related to stormwater management and mitigation–these taxes have rate limits. HB 3372 will give these counties the option to change to a fee based structure assessed on ALL properties if they adopt an authorization schedule. The fee authorization schedule is subject to the same rate limits and must be approved by the voters in a referendum (with the exception of DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry counties). Fees must bear a reasonable relationship to the actual costs of the county. If a county adopts a fee schedule they CANNOT also levy a property or sales tax, except that if there are existing debt payments to make, the remainder of that debt may be paid with proceeds from a tax imposed for stormwater management purposes. This bill ADDS new counties: Champaign, Macon, McLean, Peoria, Rock Island, Sangamon, Tazewell, Vermilion and Winnebago and grants these counties the authority to ask their voters for approval to adopt a fee schedule on all properties to fund their stormwater management and mitigation efforts. The legislation also authorizes these counties to offer full or partial fee waivers, tax rebates or incentive payments to property owners who construct, maintain and use approved green infrastructure stormwater management devices. The counties must give property owners at least 2 years notice of the fee. In this timeframe, the county is directed to provide education on green infrastructure practices so that property owners will have the opportunity to take advantage of the incentives. The IAR worked closely with Representative Mike Fortner, the chief sponsor and is NEUTRAL on the bill as approved by the House. This bill will be sponsored by Senator David Koehler in the Senate.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RELATED LEGISLATION
House Bill 212, sponsored by Representative Thaddeus Jones, was approved in the House this week on a roll call vote of 115-0-1. The bill adds new language to the Property Tax Code related to “business corridors”. A business corridor can be created to encompass territory along the common border of between 2 adjoining disadvantaged municipalities that is undeveloped or underdeveloped and unlikely to be developed without the creation of the business corridor. The bill defines “disadvantaged municipality” as a municipality with a per capita EAV less than 60% of the State average and more than 15% of its population below the national poverty two municipalities. Property within the created business corridor will have its property taxes abated pursuant to an intergovernmental agreement of the municipalities. Senator Toi Hutchinson will sponsor this bill in the Senate. Senate Bill 1755, sponsored by Senator Mike Jacobs, amends the Quad Cities Regional Economic Development Authority Act, to include the counties of JoDaviess, Carroll, Whiteside, Stephenson and Lee (current counties in the Authority are Rock Island, Henry, Knox and Mercer). Representative Pat Verschoore will sponsor the bill in the House.

DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY IN NOTICES
House Bill 3102, was unanimously approved by the House this week. HB 3102, sponsored by Representative Mike Tryon, amends the Municipal Code to provide that a notice concerning annexation, special uses, variations, or specified zoning hearings need not include a metes and bounds legal description of the property affected, provided that the notice includes: (i) the common street address or addresses and (ii) the property index number (“PIN”) or numbers of all the parcels of real property contained in the affected area. No Senate sponsor has been determined as of today. The IAR is NEUTRAL.

MECHANICS LIEN ACT CHANGES
House Bill 3636, sponsored by Representative Chapin Rose, was approved by the House on a roll call vote of 114-0-2. The bill adds specific language to the section of the Act requiring a written demand to commence a suit. The new language: “Failure to respond to this notice within 30 days after receipt, as required by Section 34 of the Mechanics Lien Act, shall result in the forfeiture of the referenced lien.” Senator Sam McCann will sponsor this bill in the Senate. Another bill, Senate Bill 1971, sponsored by Senator Pam Althoff, received unanimous approval in the Senate. This bill provides that a contract need not provide a time for the completion or a time for payment in order to obtain a mechanics lien, provided, that the work is done or material furnished within 3 years from the commencement of the work or the commencement of furnishing the material, but if the work is not done within 3 years from the commencement of the work or the material is not furnished within 3 years, then a lien may be obtained within one year after the work is done or after the material is completely furnished, whichever is later (instead of within 3 years from the commencement of the work or the commencement of furnishing the material). The IAR is NEUTRAL on these bills.

RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE LICENSE ACT CHANGES
Senate Bill 1603, sponsored by Senator Michael Frerichs, was unanimously approved in the Senate this week. This bill amends the Residential Mortgage License Act to make various changes. In a provision concerning definitions, the bill provides that an “exempt person or entity” shall also mean any person or entity that does not originate mortgage loans in the ordinary course of business, but makes or acquires residential mortgage loans with his or her own funds for his or her or its own investment without intent to make, acquire, or resell more than 3 residential mortgage loans in any one calendar year. It also provides that an individual acting as a mortgage loan originator under this Act shall be subject to a determination by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development through final rulemaking or other authorized agency determination under the federal Secure and Fair Enforcement for Mortgage Licensing Act of 2008. This bill will be sponsored in the House by Representative Tom Holbrook. The IAR is NEUTRAL.

COMMON INTEREST COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION ACT CHANGES
The Senate also approved Senate Bill 1651, sponsored by Senator A.J. Wilhelmi this week on a unanimous roll call vote. SB 1651 makes various changes to the recently enacted Common Interest Community Association Act (CICAA). These changes were prompted by concerns raised since the enactment of the new Act. The bill will be sponsored in the House by Republican Leader Tom Cross. IAR continues to work with the sponsors to further refine the provisions.

CONDOMINIUM PROPERTY-COMMON EXPENSES
Senate Bill 1972, sponsored by Senator Pam Althoff, was unanimously approved in the Senate this week. This bill amends the Condominium Property Act to provide that in provisions concerning master associations, that a purchaser of a unit at a judicial foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee who takes possession pursuant to a court order or a purchaser who acquires title from a mortgagee, has the duty to pay the proportionate share of the common expenses for the unit during the 6 months immediately before the filing of an action to collect assessments and the association’s costs of collection, including reasonable attorney’s fees, (instead of collect assessments) that remain unpaid by the prior owner. Provides that if the outstanding assessments and the association’s costs of collection, including reasonable attorney’s fees (instead of outstanding assessments) are paid during an action to collect assessments, the purchaser shall have no obligation to pay any assessments or costs (instead of any assessments) that accrued before he or she acquired title. A House sponsor has not been named. The IAR is NEUTRAL.

INCOME TAX CREDIT-BROWNFIELDS
Senate Bill 1900, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader James Clayborne, provides that qualified taxpayers that undertake one or more eligible projects related to the remodeling, rehabilitation, modernization, or remediation of certain contaminated property may apply with the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to obtain a tax credit against their income tax liability. The IAR is NEUTRAL on this measure which was unanimously approved in the Senate and will be sponsored by Representative Tom Holbrook in the House.

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE-CITY OF CHICAGO EXEMPTION
Senate Bill 2002, sponsored by Senator William Delgado, exempts the city of Chicago from the requirement that a copy of the notice of foreclosure must be sent to the municipality in which the foreclosed property is located. This bill was approved by the Senate on a roll call vote of 51-7-0. The IAR is NEUTRAL.
DEVELOPER PREFERENTIAL ASSESSMENT
Senate Bill 2225, sponsored by Senator A.J. Wilhelmi, was approved in the Senate this week on a roll call vote of 54-1-1. This bill modifies the subsection of the Property Tax Code dealing with the preferential assessment for developers (often referred to as the Vacant Lot Act). SB 2225 clarifies that sales or transfers of any platted lot to: any person or entity for purposes of future development; to a related entity (including a parent corporation, subsidiary or affiliate) to a holder of a mortgage pursuant to a mortgage foreclosure proceeding or pursuant to a transfer in lieu of foreclosure; or by the holder of a mortgage shall not disqualify that lot from the provisions of this subsection of the Property Tax Code. This is an initiative of the Home Builders Association of Illinois and is also SUPPORTED by the IAR. Republican Leader Tom Cross will sponsor the measure in the House.

TORRENS ACT REPEAL DATE
The Senate approved Senate Bill 1746, sponsored by Senator Donne Trotter, this week. This is a duplicate bill to an earlier approved House measure (House Bill 1379) to accelerate the repeal of the Torrens Act from July 1, 2037 to January 1, 2014. Torrens was a method for recording ownership interest previously used in Cook County. The IAR is NEUTRAL on both measures. SB 1746 will be sponsored by Representative Joe Lyons in the House.

TAX INCREMENT FINANCING (TIF) DISTRICTS
Senate Bill 540, an initiative of Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka’s office and sponsored by Senator Dan Kotowski, was approved in the Senate on a roll call vote of 52-1-0 this week. SB 540 establishes a training and certification program for TIF administrators and requires that the Comptroller’s website post required reports submitted by a municipality and a list of those municipalities who failed to comply with deadlines for the reports to be filed. Those municipalities who are delinquent may be fined by the Comptroller. No House sponsor has been determined to date. Senate Bill 1435, sponsored by Senator Dale Righter was unanimously approved in the Senate this week. This bill extends the life of the TIF in the city of Lawrenceville an additional 12 years. The IAR is NEUTRAL on this bill which will be sponsored in the House by Representative Roger Eddy.”

Pick of the Week — Chicago Neighborhood Adventure

Once a week, we will be choosing a neighborhood in Chicago to focus our story.  We will start by  creating for you an adventure plan for this neighborhood.  This week, its Lincoln Park.

Our Recommended Adventure best if occurs on  Feb 13th or Feb 14th

Start your day:  Grab an exciting Breakfast at the Zoo, Join Lincoln Park Zoo for the wildest breakfast you’ll ever eat! Sip a cup of joe with JoJo the gorilla and enjoy a delicious, exclusive buffet breakfast at Regenstein Center for African Apes.  Associate Curator of Primates Maureen Leahy shares fun, fascinating, and wild stories about the resident chimpanzees and gorillas. And, after breakfast, diners enjoy a private viewing of the apes. Leahy comes along to interpret animal behavior and answer questions from humans.

Lunch at Goose Island and then a Free Tour and Tasting

Continue:   Our city is abundant with museums, culture, and information.  The Chicago History Museum has great information and is a fun field trip on a winter day where you would prefer to stay inside.

End the Day:  2nd Stories at Webster Wine Bar –  Flights of wine, Story, and Fun Conversations – “What happens when real life comes between the love we want and who we want to share it with? From first loves to everlasting loves, from the ones we got to the ones that got away, our four tellers discover that even if matters of the heart never work out the way anyone planned, hard-fought love can sometimes be the greatest love of all.”

Lincoln Park Neighborhood History

In 1824, Lincoln Park was merely swamp and prairie land where, amid Native American settlements, there was a remote U.S. Army outpost.  In the 1860′s, the land at Clark Street and North Avenue was initially earmarked for the Chicago City Cemetery.  As early as 1855, articles in the Chicago Daily Democrat began suggesting that City Cemetery was an ill-chosen site. A petition soon followed, asking city officials to convert the cemetery into a public park.  After the Chicago Fire in 1871 , which burned everything south of Fullerton, many grave markers were destroyed, their sites left unmarked and soon forgotten, lost amidst the ruin. In the aftermath of the blaze, the cemetery was a victim of the cleanup.   During construction of the Chicago Historical Society’s new parking garage in 1998, workers uncovered 81 partial skeletons and an iron coffin containing a remarkably well-preserved corpse. Given the gaps in records and the passage of time, there could be hundreds, perhaps thousands, remains left scattered throughout the neighborhood.  The Chicago City Cemetery may be long gone, but its legacy endures.

Lincoln Park in the Present…. 

Dream Town Realty has spent time collecting neighborhood pictures  and creating a database of information of each of the neighborhoods.

Over the years Lincoln Park has gained a reputation as one of the city’s most desirable communities. Its shady, tree-lined residential streets and stretches of exciting entertainment and nightlife are the ideal union of serenity and fun. The majority of Lincoln Park holds an old-fashioned appeal, reinforced by rows of brown- and graystone walk-up and ornate, vintage architecture.  An electric bar and club scene – favored by the younger crowd in Lincoln Park – is buffered by miles of tranquil green space and breathtaking shoreline in the neighborhood’s namesake 1,200-acre park. Summertime bursts with activity as people come from all over the city to enjoy the expansive beach, waterfront jogging and biking trails, a jam-packed schedule of street festivals and farmer’s markets, and the family favorite – the Lincoln Park Zoo.

We will look at one block in Lincoln Park and give you the price comparisons.   Our featured block:  1000 – 1300 block of Wrightwood

Prices from 1998

Very few if any Duplex Condos sold in 1998 but Townhomes on Wrightwood sold for $500,000 – 620,000

Single Family Homes ranging from $500,000 – 950,000

Prices of 2006

Duplex Condos ranging from 550,000 -700,000

Single Family Homes ranging from 800,000 – 2,100,000

Prices 2011

Currently active:  Duplex Condo at 1127 W Wrightwood for $550,000, Single Family Home at 1049 W Wrightwood for $2,349,000