In 2002, an ad hoc committee of the Common Council, led by realtor and historic preservation advocate Judy Meyer and Christopher Nedwick, decided that instead of selling properties to the highest bidder they would solicit proposals from prospective buyers that outlined what they intended to do with the property and indicated the price they were willing to pay. The merits of the proposal, especially its benefits to the community, were considered, along with the price, in determining who was awarded the property. It was an innovative idea, and a good one, but unfortunately, no one thought to write covenants into the deeds to establish time limits for carrying out the proposal or to stipulate how long the new owner had to keep the property before selling it to someone else. Many properties were flippped before any significant improvements had been made to them.
This property was acquired in the foreclosure sale by Jack Dunlea, son-in-law of First Ward Alderman Sarah Sterling. The plan was to restore the house as a second home, but in nine years, very little work has been done, and there have been complaints from neighbors about the property's appearance and condition. According to one report, a family of skunks has been harboring under a pile of scrapped building materials in the yard. Now, it seems, the house has become yet another of Eric Galloway's holdings in the First Ward. One wonders how long it will be before his restoration work begins.
A new name to me Mike Todd. Todd Animal Control.
ReplyDeleteLive traps and moves the animals as I understand it. 851-5711
While understanding the preservation rationale behind Judy and Chris's idea (which became law), it has a downside.
ReplyDeleteThe law can be abused by unscrupulous politicians to justify selling a property at a huge discount to preferred friends and allies, using that law as a cover for preferential, insider deals... Sell the property to your buddy for way less than the highest price, and just claim that it was because the City preferred their (bogus) plans to the highest bidder's. Result: Few actual preservation benefits, less money in the City's pocket.
Indeed, there have been allegations in the past decade that exactly that scenario happened in several prominent cases.
--Sam P.
Yet more empty dwellings to add to his already long long list - all needing much work.
ReplyDeleteJust what is his motive? Hopefully it's not a grand scheme for more subsidized housing.
What about 113 Union? Not also bought by Galloway?
ReplyDeleteDid he buy 113, too? This is a first I've heard.
ReplyDelete