The Turning Point recently brok ground in Gar eld Park, and Missing Middle in Lawndale is accepting developer applications
By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter
Two new initiatives are turning vacant housing on Chicago’s West Side in North Lawndale and East Garfield Park.
Local officials gathered at the end of last month to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Tu Point, a multi-family residential building Garfield Park
And at the start of this month, applications opened for developers to join in on the city’s pilot program for its Missing Middle initiative in North Lawndale.
The goal of Missing Middle is to build “missing” middle-density buildings on vacant cityowned land. By offering owner-occupied, low-cost housing, officials hope to help repopulate South
Raw, Vegan and Very Good Programs aim to buil housing on vacant West Side lots
How Kweisi Gharreau uses poetry to heal and inspire the community
With ‘One Shot Away,’ The West Side poet transforms trauma into hope
By HECTOR CERVANTES
Contributing Reporter
Kweisi Gharreau’s voice is a powerful presence across Chicago’s West Side, where he recently performed at numerous local venues to share his deeply personal journey through poetry.
His story takes on even greater significance as September, National Suicide Prevention Month, and October, National Bullying Prevention Month, highlight the struggles many face.
Gharreau is a Chicago resident and has shared his poetry and creative work on numerous occasions across the West Side, from speaking engagements at grammar and high schools to performances at Build Chicago, North Lawndale and the Artist Cafe. Recently, he performed at the GO Chi Life DNC Block Party and the CTU Back-toSchool Jam with Mayor Brandon Johnson.
Gharreau recently delivered a performance at the Poetry Peace & Pizza event at Delicious Pizza in Los Angeles Oct. 2 with his son ,who served as a special guest poet. Then, on Oct. 5, he gave a special perfor mance in Las Ve gas with a client of his brand strategy firm kgPR, Lulu PruPru. Gharreau confronts his darkest thoughts of suicide, revealing how writing poetry ultimately saved my life. His spoken word album, “One Shot Away,” was a contender in seven categories for the 66th Annual Grammy Awards.
The story follows Gharreau, who was born Robert Dunlop, but changed his name to a Ghanaian one given to him by a mentor. It means “child born on Sunday; natural-born leader.” Gharreau carries the memory of his younger brother, James Lamar Ford, known as Lamont, who was murdered in 1992. Lamont was killed execution-style after stepping in to protect a 14-year-old girl from gang members.
The killers were caught and sentenced to life in prison, but Gharreau struggled with grief, turning to alcohol and struggling with suicidal thoughts. A spiritual
moment led him to forgive the killers, which he expressed through letters and his career as a spoken word poet. Gharreau now honors his brother’s memory through poetry, performing worldwide and inspiring others.
Initially, poetry was a personal outlet, a way for him to express his emotions without internalizing the grief. As he attended poetry readings to share his work, others encouraged him to continue, sparking his deeper involvement in the art form
“The loss of my brother was overwhelming, and poetry became the only way I could process the pain. It allowed me to express my emotions instead of holding them in, and as I shared my work, others encouraged me to keep going, which helped me find my voice,” Gharreau said.
Gharreau’s journey shifted when a client, moved by his positive outlook during his brother’s murder trial, invited him to share his thoughts on a local radio station.
“A client saw the positivity I held onto despite everything, and he invited me to share that on the radio. That 30 seconds turned into something bigger, opening doors I never expected, and it’s what pushed me to pursue poetry more seriously,” Gharreau said.
This led to a spoken word segment in 1993, expanding his audience. He later pursued literature at Oxford and sought the title of Chicago Poet Laureate. Though not appointed, he plans to reapply in 2025.
His now aims to use art to inspire change and awareness.
“The goal is to use art in a way that’s at-
tractive to others, so people can look within themselves as they deal with pain, hurt, anger, or trauma. Whether they become a poet or not, writing it out — just journaling the pain — can be a powerful healing mechanism for processing those emotions,” Gharreau said.
His work received a positive response from audiences and he credits this success to his unconventional approach to poetry, moving beyond traditional formats. “One Shot Away” delves into dark themes, but also conveys hope, illustrating the fine line between despair and the pursuit of dreams.
“My approach to poetry isn’t your traditional roses-are-red style. With ‘One Shot Away,’ I touch on dark thoughts, but also the idea that I’m just one shot away from my dream. That’s what resonates with people—whether I’m talking about struggles or dreams, they can relate, and that connection is what I aim fo r,” Gharreau said.
Gharreau added that he’s been wellreceived at various performances, from the DNC Block Party to the CTU Back-to-School Jam. Recently, someone who had been living in Oxford messaged him, saying people there still talk about him 20 years after he studied abroad. Gharreau said he was surprised and humbled that his poetry continues to have such a lasting impact
And it does, particularly in Black communities where suicide rates are rising. Gharreau said poetry and music are powerful tools for addressing mental health crises, especially in Black communities, because writing and journaling have been scientifically proven to help manage dark thoughts, depression, and anxiety.
“Writing and journaling have been scientifically proven to help manage dark thoughts, depression, and anxiety. Just to journal the pain and the hurt could be a great healing mechanism for dealing with one’s pain, hurt, anger, or disappointment,” Gharreau said.
He created a w riting progr am c alled MTVP, Minimize the T houghts of Vi olence Through Poetr y, to teach other s how to process their emotions — not from an academic perspect ive, but from a f eeling perspect ive.
“We all have access to a pen and pad, and to our feelings; writing can be a powerful tool for healing,” Gharreau said.
AU STIN WEEKLY news
Editor Erika Hobbs
Sta Repor ter Jessica Mordacq
Special projects reporter Delaney Nelson
Contributing Editor Donna Greene
Digital Manager Stacy Coleman
Digital Media Coordinator Brooke Duncan
Reporting Partners Block Club, Austin Talks
Columnists Arlene Jones, Aisha Oliver
Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead
Editorial Design Manager Javier Govea
Designers Susan McKelvey, Vanessa Garza
Marketing & Adver tising Associate Ben Stumpe
Senior Media Strategist Lourdes Nicholls
Business & Development Manager Mary Ellen Nelligan
Circulation Manager Jill Wagner
Publisher Dan Haley
Special Projects Manager Susan Walker
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Chair Eric Weinheimer
Treasurer Nile Wendorf
Deb Abrahamson, Gary Collins, Steve Edwards, Judy Gre n, Darnell Shields, Sheila Solomon
Peace Runners 773, a non-pro t health equity organization, is hosting “Marathon Weekend”, a series of events for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, that takes place on Oct.13. The organization has a “shake-out” run planned on Saturday, from 9 to 11:30 a.m., at the Gar eld Park Gold Dome. On the day of the marathon, Sunday, Oct. 13, a cheer station will be mile 16 of the race at 8 a.m., located at Malcolm X College. An after-party will take place on Sunday night with $10 for entry. Find more information about the Peace Runners 773 on their website at https://peacerunners773.com/ and their social media page at https://www.instagram.com/peace_runners773/.
Sexual Assault Survivors Suppor t Groups
On Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 6 to 8 p.m., star ting Oc t. 10 through Dec. 19, Virtual meeting Virtual support groups for African American women, trans-women and non-binary survivors of sexual violence will be hosted over the next few months by Resiliance, a not-for-pro t organization that advocates and supplies services for sexual assault survivors. The support group is focused on developing self empowerment, sisterhood and coping skills.The group is intended for people ages 18 and above. To nd out more information, call 312.443.9603, or contact by email at: gmolden@ourresilience.org. View the yer at https://ow.ly/bJVq50TEj9L
Thursday, Oc t. 10, from 12 to 3 p.m., Pick-up at the Austin Town Hall Park
There are two more Farm to Table Travel Tours before the end of the season. The tours are hosted by Chicago Austin Youth Travel Adventures, and take participants on a free trolley-tour around di erent community gardens in the Austin area. The next tour will be on Thursday, Oct. 10, and the last tour for the year will be on Oct. 19, and will have an “Autumn Market Fundraiser” with fall-themed foods and African wares for sale. Find more information about the organization on their website at https://www.caytaworld.org/.
Hub 101 with Austin Forward Together Team
Tuesday, Oc t. 15, from 12:30 to 1:45 p.m., Virtual meeting Austin Coming Together will be hosting a virtual info-session on the topic of their new Austin Forward Together Highlighted Agenda. Organizers will speak about their plans with their new ten key-focus areas of the “Austin For ward. Together.” quality- of-life plan. The highlighted agenda includes topics on restorative justice, mental health and early childhood education. View the yer at https://ow.ly/Yvzh50TEjIS and register at https://ow.ly/ZkhL50TEjhj. For more information call 708-529-5042, or email organizers at hub@austincomingtogether.org.
YourPassion1st ’s 2024 Pitch Competition and Music Festival
Nov. 9, 12 to 9 p.m., competition submission deadline on Oc t. 26, Kehrein Center for the Arts, located at 5628 W. Washington Blvd.
A music festival and youth empowerment competition with cash prizes will be hosted by YourPassion1st, a youth empowerment nonpro t. The event is themed “Build Yourself Inside and Out”, with a focus on supporting youth’s personal dreams and on youth mental health. Submissions are due by Oct. 26. The competition is for people ages 14 to 24. To compete, submit a pitch: a short video that showcases a business idea, personal story or talent. Live music and food vendors will be at the festival. Find more information on pitching, the event details and the prizes, visit https://www.yourpassion1st. com/about-us/
Compiled by S am Tucker
CREDIT: PEACE RUNNERS
Loretto Hospital to o er fre e mammograms
Those
in Austin, Berwyn and Cicero who qualify can get free ser vices as part of a program to help detect early breast cancer
By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter
Loretto Hospital is offering free mammogram services to residents of Austin, Berwyn and Cicero as part of a grant from the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
Those who qualify can receive a free screening mammogram, diagnostic mammogram, or breast ultrasound. While a screening mammogram is an annual checkup, a diagnostic mammogram occurs when there is a lump or pain in the breast and often includes more specialized mammograms and a breast ultrasound.
One in eight women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime, according to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. To improve those odds,
the foundation distributed grants to hospitals like Loretto that cater to underserved communities.
“Within underserved communities, because of lack of access, the mortality rate increases greatly because [breast cancer] goes undetected,” said Amy Henwood, lead mammography technician at Loretto Hospital.
According to officials, one of the best ways to keep breast cancer from shortening your lifespan is with early detection and treatment.
Mammograms are one of the best ways to catch breast cancer before you can see or feel it on your breast. But access to mammograms, and their cost, can be prohibitive.
Mammograms also often require a physician’s order to schedule, and it can be costly and time consuming to put another doctor’s appointment on an already full calendar. But when patients set up a mammogram through the new Loretto Hospital program, the hospital will make them an appointment and have a doctor’s order ready for them when they come in for the appointment, both free of charge
Loretto is also offering free transportation
to and from the hospital for those seeking free mammogram services
Another barrier to entry to getting preventative care for breast cancer may be what people have heard from those who have gotten mammograms in earlier years.
“People often hear their mothers or their grandmothers or their aunt talk about ho w horrible their mammogram was, and it hurts so bad, so people don’t want to get it done,” Henwood said. But with advanced technology, she adds, Loretto’s machines make mammograms not nearly as painful as they once were
How to sign up
To qualify for free mammogram services, Austin, Berwyn or Cicero residents must have an income of no more than 200% of the federal poverty level, as well as no medical insurance or a co-pay that makes it difficult to access care
Henwood said the industry standard is that women should begin getting annual mammograms at age 40. She added that giving yourself monthly breast exams are also important.
“A lot of my patients come in and say, ‘Well, I didn’t feel anything, and I have no pain, so I don’t know why I have to get this exam,’” Henwood said. “But unfortunately, half of breast cancers that are found are through imaging.”
Though October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Henwood estimates that the grant will likely cover free mammogram services through December, which is when the money is expected to be used up. But Henwood advises those interested in accessing these services to make an appointment as soon as possible.
“I would recommend them getting the appointments sooner than later before that money runs out,” Henwood said. She added that Loretto Hospital can often schedule same-day appointments
“Our main goal of this grant is to spread awareness to the community and provide access to every woman who needs to have this done,” Henwood said. “Early prognosis is the best way to target these cancers.”
To see if you qualify for a mammogram appointment, or to schedule one, go to lorettohospital.org or call 773-854-5220.
Make a Difference in the Health of Our Community
Gar eld Park Conservatory starts charging entry fee for non-Chicagoans
The admission fee will help the conser vator y keep up with maintenance and other costs tied to increased attendance
By MICHAEL LIPTROT Block Club Chicago
T he Garfield Pa rk C onservatory is i ntroducing ad missions f ees for people who live outside Chicago ing this month.
S tarting Oct. 16, people who do not reside in Chicago will be charged an entrance fee to the conservator prices depending on age. Non-resident adults will be charged $10, while children 7-17 will get in for $5 and kids younger than 7 will be admitted for free, according to an announcement.
C olle ge students and p eople 65 and older will be charged $5.
The conservatory was previously free for all. Chicago residents will still get into the taxpayer-funded conserva tory for free.
The entrance fees were instituted to keep up with operating costs tied to an increase in attendance, according to the Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance, the nonprofit organization that works with the Park District to provide programs at the botanical gardens.
“This is great news for Chicagoans and for the Garfield Park community,” according to a Garfield Park Conserva
Gar eld Park Conservatory
tory Alliance news release. “Chicagoans will no longer be 100 percent responsible for supplementing the care and upkeep of the Conservatory through their tax dollars.”
Non-Chicagoans who receive state food assistance will not be charged for entry. Illinois teachers and Illinois public school field trips will also enter for free, as will active military members and veterans.
Conservatory staf f recommend people get reservations when visiting. Same-day reservations are prioritized for West Side residents and members.
T he conservatory — which opened in 1908 —features an outdoor garden, horticulture hall and greenhouses housing tropical plants. T he conservatory’s children garden is closed for renovations, as it raised nearly $10 million as of August for the overhaul of the 6,000-squarefoot indoor area.
Conservatory programs are of fered for all ages and includes introductory botanist classes, “ask a master gar-
dener” sessions and virtual yoga
“We have been working in partnership with the Chicago Park District to implement this change to help with increased operational and maintenance costs due to our rise in attendance,” according to the Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance. “In 2023, we welcomed over 325,000 visitors! This is a 25 percent increase over pre-pandemic visitor traffic and shows us the demand is high for connecting with nature across our 12 acres of indoor and outdoor gardens in Garfield Park.”
Financial statements for the Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance show fiscal year-end expenses of $2.3 million for 2023 against nearly $3.5 million in revenue plus donor support.
Garfield Park Conservatory nor Park District officials were able to be reached for comment.
More information on visiting the Garfield Park Conservatory is at garfieldconservatory.org.
PHOTO BY ERIC ALLIX ROGERS
Austin Eats names chef showcase winners
Mac and cheese was queen in the event that highlighted climate, food deserts and sustainability
By AUSTIN WEEKLY NEWS STAFF
Contributing Reporter
One Earth, a climate action advocacy group, teamed up with Austin Eats and its 26 local partners last week for a free chef showcase and movie night. The event featured a film called “They’re Trying To Kill Us” and a panel discussion about the movie. The movie co-produced by Billie Eilish and Chris Paul can be rented for $1.99: https://www.theyretryingtokillus.com/
As part of the festivities, a chef ’s showcase with a macaroni-and-cheese cookof f also was held. The winners of the competition are:
■ Best of the West Mac & Cheese: Edward Jackson of Chef Daddy with his broccoli mac & cheese
■ Crowd Favorite: Chef Daddy’s
■ Most Creative: Katr2U
■ Best Ve gan Recipe: Thank God 4
Raw Ve gan Treats
■ Healthiest Recipe: The Natural Branches Restaurant
■ Best Classic Mac: MacAurther’s Restaurant
■ Best Seasonings: David, son of Qia Carswell of Chicago Style Ve gan
Youth ages 14 to 25 who watched the film can also participate in a Verses & Vittles Literary Slam. It’s a competition for a poem, rap, song, lyric, word colla ge or other response to the film, and organizers said it does not need to be perfor med for those who are shy. Winning entries can earn $100, $50 or $25 for their works. The deadline is Oct. 20. For submissions and more infor mation, visit: https://ow.ly/Cecn50TFWCY
LUNCH & COMMUNITY
Kehrein Center for the Arts | 5628 Washington Boulevard October 11, November 8 | 11:00 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
VIVA LA VIDA
National Museum of Mexican Art | 1852 W. 19th Street
October 24, November 21 | 1:00–3:00 p.m.
WALKING & WELLNESS CLUB
Salvation Army Freedom Center | 825 N. Christiana Avenue
Fridays | 8:30–10:00 a.m.
Registration appreciated! Anyone 55+ is welcome at these
programs.
JACO B BADAGLIACC
e Turning Point housing initiative breaks ground on Sept. 25.
HOUSING Developing
and West Side neighborhoods after decades of systemic disinvestment.
facing a shor tage of 120,000 af fordable housing units, according to the City’s Department of Housing. And while Breakthrough provides 60 beds of transitional housing in Garfield Park and support to 50 off-site apar tments, the Turning Point marks a new ef fort for affordable housing in the neighborhood.
The initiative is part a $75 million program by Chicago’s Department of Planning and Development and the latest project to be a part of a $1.25 billion bond for af fordable housing and economic development in the city.
Turning Point
The Turning Point is led by Breakthrough, a nonprofit in Garfield Park that provides 20,000 residents each year with education, food, housing, job training and other resources. The new project will offer 14 units of two- and three-bedroom af fordable housing to community members.
T he residential building, constructed on six vacant lots in the 3300 block of W. Carroll Avenue, will include amenities and gathering spaces. Residents of the building will have access to Breakthrough progr ams, including those for education, workforce development and financial coaching.
Breakthrough’s af fordable housing project comes at a time when Chicago is
“The need for af fordable housing and opportunities to increase income has never been greater,” said Breakthrough’s Executive Director Yolanda Fields at the Turning Point’s groundbreaking. “So, you can understand our excitement for this project. Families in our community will be able to access opportunities to build skills for increased income.”
The Turning Point’s af fordable units are set to open in 2026.
Missing Middle
This month, developers can start applying to build housing on 44 vacant cityowned lots as a part of the Missing Middle initiative in North Lawndale.
In North Lawndale from 2018 to 2022, over 42% of residents had a household income less than $25,000, according to the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning. The median sale price for a single-family home in Chicago’s Austin and North Lawndale neighborhoods is over $200,000, according to the Cook County House Price Index Missing Middle is a strateg y under that
BREAKTHROUGH
aims to re populate neighborhoods like North Lawndale by building homes with city land and financing. Through Missing Middle’s pilot phase in North Lawndale, vacant lots will be transformed into multiunit buildings, which could provide more than 160 housing units.
Qualified housing developers can buy each lot for $1 to redevelop into residential buildings, ranging from single-family homes to six-flat s. T he lots will be sold to developers in six clusters, containing at least five lots each. T he city will also provide up to $150,000 per unit in construction assistance.
Interested developers must attend at least one virtual webinar to apply, either on Oct. 9 at 1 p.m. or Oct. 10 at 2 p.m. Developers can apply to build on a cluster of lots through the ChiBlockBuilder land sale portal through Nov. 15.
Finished homes will be sold at market rate. And if the pilot phase goes well, the city may expand its Missing Middle strateg y to other neighborhoods on Chicago’s South and West Sides.
According to officials, North Lawndale was selected as Missing Middle’s pilot project because of its land value, zoning, and local investments.
PROVIDED
Missing Middle develops housing sites on vacant lots like this one in Chicago’s North Lawndale neig hborhood.
TTra c woes on Laramie
his is the first time I’ve ever written an opinion column where I pray that I am wrong. I bet many of you are wondering why I would write something and at the same time, ne gate my opinion.
Well let me give you some background. For quite a while now, Laramie has been under construction. Starting from Lake Street on the south all the way up to North Avenue, there has been lots of curb work going on. If any of those newly renovated cor ners hadn’t been hangout spots in the past, the city has now given enough cement space to those corners that folks can just hang out, set up card tables, snow cone stands, tamale carts, or who knows what on the space.
JONES
Laramie is a street where people live. So taking away even a piece of a parking space is totally unfair to the citizens whose tax dollars paid for this to happen. It represents just another malicious aspect of that 75-year parking deal. Even more sinister is what kind of thought process (or lack thereof) went into creating those curbs?
Laramie has always been a favorite
ignored the barriers, went around, and continued south. Now let’s add into the mix that the driving habits of many people on this side of town is not to stop at the white line before proceeding. Drivers attempting to merge onto Laramie pull out very close to the end of the curb. Howeve r, to make that right tur n, there was nor mally a parked car lane so that drivers at least had a car’s width of space before they could merge in. Now the curb extends right into traf fic
If someone comes zooming along and doesn’t stop in time, the parked car width is no longer a part of the equation. There is also an incline added so if the car is traveling either east or west and wants to make a right turn onto Laramie, they will immediately be in traffic.
Sadly I am predicting there’s bound to be some major accidents, especially once it snows. My hope and prayer is that it won’t involve little children in a vehicle hit by someone who misjudged their stopping distance in order to merge into traffic. I don’t know how the alderman allowed
Federal agency opposes new st ate law; Pritzker to lead trade mission to Japan
Lawsuit seeks to block state law that would limit debit and credit card fees
By HANNAH MEISEL & ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois
The Biden administration is asking a federal judge to halt Illinois’ first-in-the-nation law curtailing credit card “interchange fees” before it goes into ef fect next summer.
When fully implemented in July 2025, the law will curtail banks’ ability to charge those fees on the tax and tip portion of debit and credit card transactions
After a coalition of financial institutions sued over the law in federal court this summer, federal officials this week sided with the banks. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency — an independent bureau within the U.S. Department of Treasury — wrote in a legal brief that Illinois’ law is both “bad policy” and in conflict with federal law.
T he filing, published We d nesd ay, frames i nterchange f ees as a “core f eature of an i ntricately d esigned nationw ide pay ments system. ”
“The Illinois Interchange Fee Prohibition Act is an ill-conceived, highly unusual, and largely unworkable state law that threatens to fragment and disrupt this efficient and effective system,” the brief said. “Although the IFPA’s requirements are vague and ambiguous in many respects, this much is clear: the IFPA prevents or significantly interferes with federally authorized banking powers that are fundamental to safe and sound banking and disrupts core functionalities that drive the Nation’s economy.”
The law, which Gov. JB Pritzker and Democrats in the General Assembly approved as part of the state’s budget process earlier this year, was a concession to the Illinois Retail Merchants Association. Retailers had been opposed to the gover nor’s proposed cap on a tax deduction historically granted to them for collecting the state sales tax.
I RMA leaders defended the law last week, wh i le P ritzker on T hursd ay sai d the B iden administratio n’s filing was “not something that I’m de ep ly c oncer ned about. ”
“When things g et brought to c ourt, yo u neve r know how they’ll turn out,” he
said at an unrelated event. “I think thi s one is one that c an be defended well and we ’ ll end up with the law we have on the b ooks being af firmed.”
Pritzker ’s Japan trade mission
Pritzker is also set to join state legislative and business leaders on a trade mission to Japan next week to explore clean energy, manufacturing, life sciences, quantum, and other “key growth industries,” according to the gover nor’s office.
Members of the delegation will meet with their counterparts in Tokyo to discuss strengthening economic ties between the state and the island nation.
The delegation represents what the governor’s office calls “Team Illinois” – a group of gover nment and business officials that work to secure business and economic development partnerships. While it started informally, it’s now a key element of the Pritzker administration’s five-year plan for attracting businesses to the state
In total, about four dozen lawmakers, economic development officials, academics and businesspeople will join the gover nor on the trip. Among them are House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, and Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park
Christy George, the CEO of Intersect I nois, is also joining the delegation. Intersec Illinois is the private economic development organization started by then-Gov. Bruc Rauner that has since become a go-between for businesses looking to relocate to Illinoi and state gover nment. It works on mark ing and site selection in partnership with the state’s Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.
George stepped into the role in mid-September after working as the executive director of the Democratic National Convention’s 2024 Host Committee. Prior to that, George worked in Pritzker’s administration as an assistant deputy governor and as the executive director of the Illinois Commerce Commission.
lar trade missions to the United Kingdom and Canada in recent years. The gover nor’s first trade mission, in 2019, was also in Japan. Since then, Illinois exports to Japan have increased 31.7% while imports from Japan have fallen 22.4%, according to the governor’s office.
Others heading to Japan include representatives of PsiQuantum and TCCI, both of which have received multimillion-dollar tax incentives from DCEO since last summer. The heads of the state’s major utilities, representatives from the University of Illinois and University of Chicago, and heads of several business-related lobbying organizations are also set to join the delegation.
The Pritzker administration has led simi-
McCormick Foundation.
Open house Chicago: A weekend of architecture and culture
By LACEY SIKORA
Contributing reporter
Open House Chicago returns to the Chicago area on Oct.19 and 20. The free, public festival produced by the Chicago Architecture Center offers behind-thescenes access to architecturally, historically and culturally significant sites throughout the Chicago area. The weekend also includes more than 40 events, programs, demonstrations, talks and art performances.
Adam Rubin, director of public engagement for the CAC, said that this year’s OHC includes more than 170 sites, with a presence in 23 neighborhoods.
“It’s a really exciting opportunity for Chicagoans to lear n more about neighborhoods they don’t live in and maybe even more about the neighborhoods they do live in.”
On the CAC’s website for OHC, it’s possible to create an itinerary based on theme. Among the suggested itineraries are “Bank on It,” which explores four Chicago finan-
cial institutions; “Theatres to Silver Screens,” which leads participants through six movie palaces, music venues and refined theaters; and “Libation Station” which features five Chicago area watering holes.
Ru bin emphasized that the weekend offers endless p ossibilitie s.
“It is very much a choose your own adventure experience. The cool thing about Open House Chicago is that no two people experience it the same way,” he said.
Beyond the suggested tours based on themes, the CAC website also organizes OHC sites by neighborhood so that participants can choose which parts of the city they would like to get
to know better.
On the West Side, Austin will host six sites this year, including: Christ the King Jesuit College Preparatory School; Fraternite Notre Dame; Austin Harvest- By the Hand Club for Kids; Austin Community Family Center; St. Martin’s Episcopal Church and BUILD Headquarters.
Rubin singled out Christ the King Jesuit College Preparatory School on Jackson Boulevard as a fun, moder n building. Designed by architect John Ronan, the building’s materials, he pointed out, include a number of Chicago-specific materials, such as the wall of glass brick and a cement-paneled exterior that undulates
PHOTO BY ERIC ALLIX ROGERS
Austin Communi ty Family Center, 501 N. Central Ave., Chicago
PHOTO BY TO M HARRIS
BUILD Headquar ters, 5100 W. Harrison St., Chicago
OPEN HOUSE CHICAGO
Christ the King Jesuit College Preparator y School, 5088 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago
St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, 5700 W. Midway Park, Chicago
Built in 1923, the Austin Family Community Center on Central Avenue once served the community as a YMCA building. Rubin said that the building has been home to many organizations over years. Today, the building shares space with an SRO and homeless shelter and partners with community organizations to provide social services, recreation and cultural programs to local youth and adults.
“It’s a cool adaptive reuse project,” Rubin said.
BUILD Headquarters on Harrison Street is a community center designed in connection with Landon Bone Baker architects. BUILD, or Broader Urban Involvement and Leadership Development, is an organization dedicated to gang intervention, violence prevention and youth development.
Meant to be a home for youth in the community, the new BUILD center offers a variety of education and enrichment programs for area youth, including a garden, art areas and sports facilities
Rubin said that during OHC, BUILD will be a location for a few hands-on activities including a button making station on Saturday, Oct. 19, in which participants can make buttons with personal affirmations
BUILD will also host a popcorn seasoning station, using herbs grown in the on-site garden.
In addition to offering access to more than 170 sites, the CAC also created guides for each of the 23 neighborhoods that will be featured during OHC
Rubin said that these guides include local activities, restaurants and businesses that participants can visit while in particular neighborhoods. For the families participating in OHC, the guides also include nearby playgrounds so that they can break up the day with some outdoor activity.
“We want people to explore like a local,” Rubin said. To that end, the CAC made sure to include fun new spots as well as legacy businesses to make sure that participants get a real feel for each neighborhood they visit
New this year, the CAC is including a photography contest as a part of OHC. Photographers of all experience levels are invited to take their best shots during the OHC weekend and submit their photos of sites they enjoy in four categories: interior, exterior, architectural detail, and black and white.
The CAC curatorial team will choose winning photos to display at the Chicago Architecture Center in a photo exhibition, which opens on Nov. 23. Following the opening of the show, a jury of professional photographers will select one winner and one honorable mention for each category, and winners will take home a complimentary annual membership to the CAC.
At the end of the day, whether you choose to travel across the city or explore one new neighborhood, Rubin said that the purpose of OHC is to build civic pride and awareness.
“We want to encourage people to get involved in their community.”
Before you go
Open House Chicago is a free event. Visitors to Open House Chicago can download the Chicago Architecture Center app to access addresses and hours for all of the sites. Information on the weekend, demonstrations and special tours are also available at the CAC’s website: https://www.architecture.org/ open-house-chicago/
BY ERIC ALLIX ROGERS
Fraternité Notre Dame, 502 N. Central Ave., Chicago
BY THE HAND CLUB
Austin Harvest - By e Hand Club For Kids, 423 N. Laramie Ave., Chicago
Your right to know... In print • Online
PUBLIC NOTICES REAL ESTATE FOR SALE
NOTICE INVITATION TO BID TO METROPOLITAN WATER RECLAMATION DISTRICT OF GREATER CHICAGO
Sealed proposals, endorsed as above, will be submitted back to the District via an electronic upload to the Bonfire Portal only, from the date of the Invitation to Bid, up to 11:00 A.M. (Chicago time), on the bid opening date, and will be opened publicly as described in the Invitation to Bid by the Director of Procurement and Materials Management or designee at 11:00 AM on the stated bid opening date below for: CONTRACT 25-699-11 SERVICES OF HEAVY EQUIPMENT WITH OPERATORS
Estimated Cost Group A:
$1,707,000.00
Bid Deposit Group A: NONE
Estimated Cost Group B:
$1,755,000.00
Bid Deposit Group B: NONE
Total: $3,462,000.00
Voluntary Technical Pre Bid
Conference: Tuesday, October 22, 2024 at 10:00 am Chicago Time via ZOOM Link Compliance with the District’s Affirmative Action Ordinance Revised Appendix D, Appendix V, Appendix C, Appendix K and theMulti Project Labor Agreement are required on this Contract.
Bid Opening: November 5, 2024
*****************************************
The above is an abbreviated version of the Notice Invitation to Bid. A full version which includes a brief description of the project and/or service can be found on the District’s website, www.mwrd. org; the path is as follows: Doing Business > Procurement and Materials Management > Contract Announcements.
Specifications, proposal forms and/ or plans may be obtained from the Department of Procurement and Materials Management by downloading online from the District’s website at www.mwrd.org (Doing Business > Procurement & Materials Management > Contract Announcements). No fee is required for the Contract Documents. Any questions regarding the downloading of the Contract Document should be directed to the following email: contractdesk@ mwrd.org or call 312-751-6643.
All Contracts for the Construction of Public Works are subject to the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act (820 ILCS 130/1-et.seq.), where it is stated in the Invitation to Bid Page.
The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago reserves the right to reject any or all Proposals if deemed in the public’s best interest
Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago
By Darlene A. LoCascio Director of
Procurement
and Materials Management
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENTCHANCERY DIVISION CARRINGTON MORTGAGE SERVICES, LLC Plaintiff, -v.JC HALUMS, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, CITY OF CHICAGO Defendants 2022 CH 02578 169 N LOCKWOOD AVENUE CHICAGO, IL 60644 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on September 26, 2023, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on October 22, 2024, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 169 N LOCKWOOD AVENUE, CHICAGO, IL 60644
Property Index No. 16-09-312-0120000
The real estate is improved with a single family residence.
Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.
Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale.
Where a sale of real estate is made to satisfy a lien prior to that of the United States, the United States shall have one year from the date of sale within which to redeem, except that with respect to a lien arising under the internal revenue laws the period shall be 120 days or the period allowable for redemption under State law, whichever is longer, and in any case in which, under the provisions of section 505 of the Housing Act of 1950, as amended (12 U.S.C. 1701k), and subsection (d) of section 3720 of title 38 of the United States Code, the right to redeem does not arise, there shall be no right of redemption.
The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information.
If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS
605/18.5(g-1).
IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW.
You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales.
For information, examine the court file, CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C.
Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL, 60527 (630) 7949876 THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION
One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236SALE
You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales.
CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100 BURR RIDGE IL, 60527
630-794-5300
E-Mail: pleadings@il.cslegal.com
Attorney File No. 14-22-01553
Attorney ARDC No. 00468002
Attorney Code. 21762
Case Number: 2022 CH 02578
TJSC#: 44-2479
NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.
Case # 2022 CH 02578
I3252435
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENTCHANCERY DIVISION
U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR ICW MAT TRUST Plaintiff, -v.DAMON EATON, ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, ILLINOIS HEALTHCARE AND FAMILY SERVICES, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS
Defendants
2023 CH 03158
4018 W. CERMAK RD. CHICAGO, IL 60623
NOTICE OF SALE
PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on July 23, 2024, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 A.M. on October 24, 2024, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: LOT 1 IN THE SUBDIVISION OF LOTS 13 TO 40 BOTH INCLUSIVE IN BLOCK 1 IN T.P. PHILLIPS EQUITABLE LAND ASSOCIATION ADDITION TO CHICAGO IN THE SOUTHEAST 1/4 OF SECTION 22,
TOWNSHIP 39 NORTH, RANGE 13, EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, IN COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS
Commonly known as 4018 W. CERMAK RD., CHICAGO, IL 60623
Property Index No. 16-22-428-0330000
The real estate is improved with a single family residence.
The judgment amount was $378,825.11.
Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court. Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale.
The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of
the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information. If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1).
IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW.
You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. For information, contact CHAD LEWIS, ROBERTSON ANSCHUTZ SCHNEID CRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 205 N. MICHIGAN SUITE 810, CHICAGO, IL, 60601 (561) 241-6901. Please refer to file number 23-095341. THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION
One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236SALE
You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales.
CHAD LEWIS ROBERTSON ANSCHUTZ SCHNEID CRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC
205 N. MICHIGAN SUITE 810
CHICAGO IL, 60601
561-241-6901
E-Mail: ILMAIL@RASLG.COM
Attorney File No. 23-095341
Attorney ARDC No. 6306439
Attorney Code. 65582
Case Number: 2023 CH 03158
TJSC#: 44-1989
NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose. Case # 2023 CH 03158 I3252474
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENTCHANCERY DIVISION MILL CITY MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST 2021-NMR1 Plaintiff, -v.-
MARY A. MCKINNEY, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS
Defendants 2024 CH 00735 4326 W HADDON AVE, FL 1 CHICAGO, IL 60651
NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY
GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on June 25, 2024, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on October 21, 2024, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the
following described real estate: Commonly known as 4326 W HADDON AVE, FL 1, CHICAGO, IL 60651
Property Index No. 16-03-400-0230000
The real estate is improved with a single family residence. The judgment amount was $22,454.35.
Sale terms: 100% of the bid amount shall be paid in certified funds immediately by the highest and best bidder at the conclusion of the sale. The certified check must be made payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court. Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale. The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information.
If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS
REAL ESTATE FOR SALE
605/18.5(g-1).
IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW.
You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales.
For information, contact R. Elliott Halsey, KELLEY, KRONENBERG, P.A. Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 20 N CLARK STREET SUITE 1150, Chicago, IL, 60602 (312) 216-8828. Please refer to file number M24011. THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION
One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236SALE
You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales.
R. Elliott Halsey KELLEY, KRONENBERG, P.A.
20 N CLARK STREET SUITE 1150 Chicago IL, 60602
312-216-8828
E-Mail: ehalsey@kklaw.com
Attorney File No. M24011
Attorney ARDC No. 6283033 Attorney Code. 49848
Case Number: 2024 CH 00735
TJSC#: 44-1801
NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.
Case # 2024 CH 00735 I3252149
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENTCHANCERY DIVISION
City of Chicago, a Municipal Corporation Plaintiff vs. 4450 W. Congress Condominium Association; Nyronn J. HodgesGermany; Nicholas A. Batson; Marcin Koscielniak; Winstar Group LLC; Leon
Massey; Law-Rence Crowley; Samuel Alasu; Daniel Avram aka Daniel AveRam; Trinity Financial Services, LLC; Unknown Owners and Non Record Claimants; Defendant 24 CH 832 CALENDAR NOTICE OF SALE
PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on November 4, 2024, at the hour 11:00 a.m., Intercounty’s office, 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, IL 60602, sell to the highest bidder for cash, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 16-15-129-045-0000 and 16-15129-045-1001-1010. Commonly known as 4450-4458 West Congress Parkway, Chicago, IL 60624.
The real estate is: vacant land. Sale terms: At sale, the bidder must have 10% down by certified funds, balance within 24 hours, by certified funds. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information. For information call Sales Department at Plaintiff’s Attorney, City of Chicago, City Hall, 121 North LaSalle Street, Chicago, IL 60602. (312) 7420007. Hodges INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com I3252508
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENTCHANCERY DIVISION LOANDEPOT.COM, LLC
Plaintiff, -v.TERRANCE JACKSON SR., T AND B JACKSON LLC, CITY OF CHICAGO Defendants 22 CH 06294 3436 WEST LEXINGTON STREET
CHICAGO, IL 60624
NOTICE OF SALE
PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on August 5, 2024, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on November 6, 2024, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One
South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 3436 WEST LEXINGTON STREET, CHICAGO, IL 60624
Property Index No. 16-14-405-0270000
The real estate is improved with a two unit apartment building.
Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.
Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale. The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information.
If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4).
If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1).
IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW.
You will need a photo identification
issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales.
One North Dearborn Street, Suite 1200, Chicago, IL, 60602. Tel No. (312) 346-9088.
THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION
One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-SALE
You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales.
MCCALLA RAYMER LEIBERT PIERCE, LLC
One North Dearborn Street, Suite 1200 Chicago IL, 60602
312-346-9088
E-Mail: pleadings@mccalla.com
Attorney File No. 22-10717IL_813988
Attorney Code. 61256
Case Number: 22 CH 06294
TJSC#: 44-2179
NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.
Case # 22 CH 06294
I3252587
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENTCHANCERY DIVISION LOANDEPOT.COM, LLC
Plaintiff vs. GERALD INGRAM; JOHN MARSHALL AKA DEREK MARSHALL; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS
Defendant 24 CH 1188
CALENDAR
NOTICE OF SALE
PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on November
6, 2024, at the hour 11:00 a.m., Intercounty’s office, 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, IL 60602, sell to the highest bidder for cash, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 16-09-411-016-0000. Commonly known as 232 N. La Crosse Ave., Chicago, IL 60644. The real estate is: single family residence. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 of the Condominium Property Act. Sale terms: At sale, the bidder must have 10% down by certified funds, balance within 24 hours, by certified funds. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information.
For information call Sales Department at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Diaz Anselmo & Associates P.A., 1771 West Diehl Road, Suite 120, Naperville, IL 60563. (630) 4536960. 7034-199745
The Chicago Teachers Union is at the bargaining table, fighting for the students and teachers trapped in a broken system that limits access to crucial programs.
South and West Side schools deserve the same as everywhere else: afterschool programs with visual and digital arts, sports, and music activities; full-time librarians; dual language classes that open doors to new opportunities.
AT
What housing stock can tell you about the West Side
The types of housing matter to a community
By DELANEY NELSON Special Projects Reporter
Chicago is known as the city of neighborhoods; it’s a place where each community has unique history, struggles, qualities, goals, residents and values. One distinct, but perhaps overlooked, part of each neighborhood’s identity is its existing housing stock.
Housing stock refers to the total number of dwellings in a specific area, including single-
family homes, condominiums and multifamily units. An area’s housing makeup can be used to strategically address the community’s housing needs. Programs designed to increase homeownership in a neighborhood with a high number of owner-occupied units, for example, will look different from programs for a community with a large percentage of multiunit apartment buildings.
“If your neighborhood has a lot of two- tofour-unit buildings, and you have a lot of these small rental properties, there may be small-scale landlords who own and run those properties. That’s a different type of consideration than if the neighborhood has all single-family homes, which are more likely to be fully owneroccupied,” said Geoff Smith, executive director
See HOUSING STOCK on page B3
Cook County program aids prospective homeowners with flexible $20,000 grants
By DELANEY NELSON Special Projects Reporter
If you want to become a homeowner, but don’t think you can afford it, the Cook County Land Bank Authority wants to help.
The Homebuyer Direct program, launched by the CCLBA in 2017, connects prospective buyers with below market-rate houses in need of renovation. The program aims to remove barriers that come with fixer-upper properties through grants up to 6% of a home’s purchase price, capped at $20,000.
“[Program grants] allow them to buy, rehab and ultimately move into the home of their home of their dreams,” said Darlene Dugo, deputy director of the CCLBA.
In 2024, the program expanded to assist buyers in purchasing developer-owned renovated properties or newly built properties on former land bank plots. The grant is only available for property that will become the owner’s primary residence. Homebuyers may use grant funds to finance renovations, contribute to a down payment or closing costs or pay for things related to property transactions, like insurance or inspection fees. In addition, buyers must contribute at least $1,000 or 1% of the home purchase price, whichever is less.
There are two ways to participate:
For buyers interested in purchasing a fixer upper directly from the land bank, search the CCLBA’s interactive property viewer for available properties. Buyers may show their interest using the “apply” button on the property’s listing. From there, a representative from the agency will take potential buyers on a property tour and talk them through needed renovations.
The second option is to purchase from a developer. A list of qualifying properties can be found on the CCLBA’s website
PROVIDED
The Cook County Land Bank Authority, along with the city, Community Investments Corporation and Community Initiatives Inc., unveiled a newly restored eight-flat residential building at 1701 N. Melvina in Galewood. The project was completed by local developer Leodus Thomas Jr., who is from the Galewood and Austin neighborhoods.
PROVIDED
Construction of PCC Wellness’s new Austin Primary Care Pavilion. The property was built on formerly vacant Land Bank land.
PROVIDED
under “equity fund program.” This includes both developer-renovated properties and previously vacant land bank lots on which developers have built new property. Application documents are also listed on the website.
In either case, buyers must be mortgage-ready to apply for the grant money. That may mean going to homebuyer counseling, meeting with a lender and getting pre-approved for a mortgage.
Darlene Dugo, deputy director at the CCLBA, said the homebuyer direct program intentionally has few limits, aside from mandating the property be owner-occupied for a minimum of three years.
“We don’t impose any income restrictions, we don’t impose any credit score requirements. Essentially, we’re letting the applicant know, ‘Follow your lender’s guidelines, because they’re going to direct you,’” Dugo said. The program’s purchase assistance can be layered with other purchase assistance or down payment assistance programs, she added, as long as the buyer’s lender allows it.
Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle, first elected in 2010, has led a charge to investigate and create solutions for historic disinvestment.
The CCLBA, which, aside from this grant program, acquires vacant, abandoned and foreclosed properties and develops them in a way that’s consistent with community stakeholder priorities, is a branch of Preckwinkle’s work.
In addition to making home buying more affordable and accessible, the land bank’s grant program “continues its mission of promoting redevelopment and reuse of vacant, abandoned, foreclosured, tax delinquent property,” Dugo said.
“Imagine having one delinquent property on your street and the havoc that that causes,” said Dugo. “That impacts everyone on that block’s property values. What we want to do is turn these properties into an asset for that neighborhood.”
In the past decade, the CCLBA’s partnerships with private developers have done just that: created jobs, built affordable housing and aided in the revitalization of disinvested communities across Cook County, according to the organization’s ten-year impact report. At a cost of just over $185 million since 2014, the CCLBA’s programs generated $9.77 for every dollar spent.
In Austin, CCLBA’s reach extends beyond homeownership. On Oct. 10, PCC Community Wellness will host a ribbon cutting ceremony for its Austin Primary Care Pavilion, which was built on former Land Bank plots. The center will of fer medical care, job opportunities, an urban farm and workforce development programming. And earlier this year, local developer Leodus Thomas Jr. unveiled a newly restored eight-flat residential building in Galewood. It includes five affordable residences and was also built on plots purchased from the Land Bank.
HOUSING STOCK
Continued from page B1
at the Institute for Housing Studies at DePaul University. He said two flats, for example, provide owner-occupied homeownership opportunities, as well as affordable rental units.
On the West Side, each community has a unique housing stock composition. Singlefamily homes make up 26% of the housing in Austin, which is on par with the city average. But it has a higher percentage of two- to-four-flats than Chicago overall.
West Garfield Park and North Lawndale look a little different. Both West Side neighborhoods have a lower percentage of single-family homes than Austin, and their rates of two- to four-flats are far above the city average. Here, a homeownership-boosting initiative may include classes to teach two-flat homeowners how to rent out a unit of their home, Smith said.
A neighborhood’s housing stock is closely tied to its location and when the neighborhood was developed, according to Smith. Austin, which was established in 1920, has many older, smaller multi-unit buildings.
As a result of decades of disinvestment by the government, banking institutions and developers, many of these properties need rehabilitation, narrowing the selection of movein ready homes for sale.
“Those buildings require substantial rehab,” Smith said. “So that would mean a flipper or
some type of developer would have to come and purchase those properties and improve them. That has been happening, for sure, but there’s just a need for increased investment.
Austin also has some vacant land, which can provide opportunities for new construction. But the financing of such projects isn’t always plain sailing.
“Because of the nature of the cost of new construction versus the value of real estate in some neighborhoods, the economics of those deals are tricky sometimes for market-rate developers to make work,” Smith said.
Today, there are an array of initiatives focused on increasing homeownership and stabilizing affordable housing on the West Side.
Both Austin and West Garfield Park are, for example, designated target areas for the city’s Micro Market Recovery Program, an initiative of the Department of Housing focused on “rebuilding distressed Chicago communities” by reducing the cost of homeownership and reinvesting in vacant buildings. The Oak Park Regional Housing Center hosts Austin Rising, a program designed to help existing homeowners and “improve housing stock without displacement.” The Preservation of Affordable Housing-Chicago, a nonprofit developer focused on building and rehabbing affordable housing, has undertaken two rehab projects in Austin. One of the organization’s acquisitions is the Austin Renaissance, a structure built in 1926 on W. Washington Boulevard.
Even day-to-day conversations with neighbors can be shaped by the way a neighborhood is built. On blocks filled with owner-occupied single-family homes, residents are likely to have more interactions with their neighbors, said Don Washington, director of the Chicago Housing Initiative Coalition.
In turn, these communities may become stronger, cohesive units that can better fight against destabilizing factors like gentrification. A community with more vacant lots and large, spread-out buildings may have a harder time creating the same degree of cohesion, Washington said.
“If the housing stock is mostly apartments and renters, if it’s mostly large buildings, then it’s easy to displace it. Neighbors don’t really know each other,” Washington said. “By displacement, I don’t just mean gentrification. I mean things like, ‘We want to put something in your neighborhood that you don’t like, like a chemical plant.’ But if the neighborhood has people who have investments in their homes, or has a bunch of two- and six-flats scattered among single-family homes, it becomes very hard to displace that neighborhood. You have to build around it, because you’re not going to be able to go through it.”
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What the Federal Reserve’s interest rate cut means for prospective Chicago homebuyers
By DELANEY NELSON Special Projects Reporter
Last month brought good news for prospective homebuyers who are wary of high mortgage rates: The Federal Reserve — the U.S. central bank — cut its prime lending rate by 0.5% in midSeptember, in an effort to cool inflation and stabilize the U.S. economy. That rate cut and its ripple effects should make buying a home less expensive.
Why do lower mortgage rates matter?
The lower the interest rates, the more people who can afford to buy a home, explained Alex Bokich, a senior mortgage consultant at W intrust Mortgage in the wester n suburbs.
A buyer’s debt-to-income ratio can be a make-or-break factor in qualifying for a mortgage, Bokich said. Debt payments — combined mortgages, credit card debt, car loan payments and more — shouldn’t be more than half of the buyer’s income. Generally, buyers won’t qualify for a mortgage amount that would put them over
the 50% threshold.
“If (rates) drop about a half a percent, millions of new people have that opportunity to purchase a property,” Bokich said.
Why does the Fed control interest rates?
The Federal Reserve has two main responsibilities: promote maximum employment and stable prices.
Rate setting is one tool the Fed uses to stabilize the economy and meet its so-called “dual mandate.” Although it doesn’t have the power to set mortgage rates outright, cutting the short-term federal rate sends a signal to other lenders — and the country — about how the economy is doing. This filters down to mortgage lenders, which tend to respond by lowering rates, too.
The decision is a sign the Fed is shifting back to “normal dual-mandate mode, where we’re thinking about employment and inflation,” said Chicago Fed president Austan Goolsbee in a news conference. He compared that to the past year and a half, during which the Fed was “singularly prioritizing the fight against inflation — which we had to.”
How much does one rate cut help borrowers save?
The average 30-year fixed mortgage interest rate is around 6.2% right now, compared to a year ago, when the average was closer to 8%. A buyer who didn’t qualify to borrow enough cash for a home in their neighborhood last year may qualify today.
In other words: A theoretical household earning $60,000 per year with no debt could qualify for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage of $181,443 with 8% interest, according to Fannie Mae’s online mortgage affordability calculator. That same household would qualify for a $211,115 mortgage at 6.2% — a difference of nearly $30,000.
To be clear, mortgage rates had been falling for most of 2024, before the Fed cut its rate. That’s because other economic factors, like employment, can influence mortgage rates.
For example, when unemployment rose in August, some economists saw it as a final nail in the coffin, proving the economy was showing signs of struggle and that the Fed would have to cut rates. So lenders dropped mortgage rates in anticipation of a Fed cut, Bokich with Wintrust Mortgage said.
If the Federal Reserve continues to make cuts
— which many economists, and Bokich, predict will happen later this year — mortgage rates will likely fall even more.
I’m already a homeowner, but the interest rate on my mortgage is high. Is now a good time to refinance?
Typically, when rates have been up for a while and then they start coming down, it starts making sense for borrowers to refinance.
But refinancing comes with a fixed cost, so it only makes sense to do if the cost doesn’t outweigh potential savings, said Bokich.
“Let’s say closing costs are $2,000 for example. Would you spend $2,000 to save 20 bucks a month? No, that’s too little savings,” said Bokich. “Would you pay $2,000 to save $500 a month? The answer is yes, because you would break even in four months.”
Plus, the “right” time comes down to each homeowner’s circumstances, Bokich said. In some cases, waiting to see how low rates get is the right move. For others, it may make sense to refinance several times.
“You refinance now, guess what? In four or five months, if (rates) come down, you can refinance again. Why not?” he said.
