Beating A Dead Horse

It shouldn't be a shock to anyone that irresponsible absentee landlords own properties on the south side.

But celebrity irresponsible absentee landlords is somewhat of a news story.

To be accurate I should correctly state that Antoine Walker is not an absentee landlord but rather a celebrity investor or principal in two real estate investment companies.

Mr. Walker has had a rather tumultuous year.

It appears that his financial troubles have continued to reach into the Chicago real estate arena.

According to the Chicago Tribune Mr. Walker is "the target of more than a dozen lawsuits alleging poor management of numerous properties, unpaid debts and damages caused by shoddy repair work. In one case last month, the city won $950,000 in court-ordered fines against Walker Ventures."

The article further states that most of the legal issues stem from the alledged day to day mismanagement of the properties.

One of the self described "managing members" of the companies is also accused of "fraudulently collecting $10,000 in federally subsidized rent payments, though those actions are not connected to Walker Ventures or AW Realty."

Unfortnately this is nothing new to those of us who live here.

What stands out to me are two glaring issues.

It saddens me to see Black people victimizing other Black people yet again. But it easiest to make money off of those who are less likely to manipulate the system in their favor.

While race may play a roll in this, it's probably more of a class thing.

Who cares or pays attention to poor Black people?

Secondly, when are CHAC & HUD going to stop serving as piggy banks for anyone who signs up for the program?

It seems that once you pass your initial and annual inspections you have little reason other than money to keep up with the maintenance.

But yet the payments still continue.

Because until CHAC and HUD tighten up their policies, especially concerning condominium developments, the cash cow will continue.

And nothing will change.

But the south side will continue to get more of the same.

Mortgage Epilogue, Part I

On it's face my mortgage situation has been worked out---at least temporarily.

When I didn't know what would happen, I contacted the press about my situation to see if a little well needed publicity would help the matter.

While I spoke with various members of the press, this is the only story to emerge so far.

Much thanks to Ashley Gross and the lovely folks over at Chicago Public Radio.

Snippets

The grass is growing back in the vacant lots around my house.

Japanese beetles are decimating my collard greens. Nonetheless, there was enough to harvest for a meal.



The new rentals down the street are accepting Section 8/CHAC vouchers and the grass is starting to look like a bag of ass (again).

It official: The neighbors from hell have moved next door. More on that later.

And if you didn't know it already, I'm very quotable. Read the latest story on yours truly. Note: If you're prompted to sign up for a newsletter, blow past the screen by clicking on the enter link to progress to the article.

60

Yes, that's the year John F. Kennedy was elected President.

And as luck would have it, it’s also the ranking my humble offerings were given by the Chicago Media Workshop’s report titled “Journalism We Want and Need.”

I’m wanted and needed? I feel very valued right about now.

You can find my blurb on page 19.

Chanting “I’m number 60!” doesn’t have the same ring as “I’m number 1!”

But sometimes you can't put a price on being wanted AND needed.

Flying Under The Radar

Clearly I have not been paying attention to the goings on in the neighborhood.

It might have been because I was (am?) putting my life back together after 11 months of unemployment (Note: Not as easy as one would think).

Or it might have been the brutality of this slow moving winter and my knee injury.

Or it might have been because my head may have been firmly ensconced up my ass.

Either way, I had no clue that there was (is) a gang turf war in our little patch of heaven.

At least I didn’t know until it erupted on Monday night resulting in the shooting death of a 15 year old.

While the violence was a shock, I was fully prepared for the negative comments that usually accompany the subsequent Tribune and Sun-Times stories about the incident.

Luckily, the Tribune disabled the comments section by the time I had read the article.

Perhaps they already knew the caliber of commenter and simply disabled the ability to comment from the beginning.

No matter how you feel, someone’s child is dead.

While the consequences that led up to that fact are important, at the very least you should err on the side of respect.

Yes, I understand that some people cause their own problems.

But a majority of comments on articles about urban crime are mean and tip toe right up the line of being racist.

So it was with this in mind that I steeled myself after reading the Tribune’s article.

But it was all for naught.

I will say this to you who feel that “some people,” specifically black people, don’t care about the communities where they reside.

Let me preface my statements by affirming that while I may speak for myself, I also happen to know a huge swath of other black folks who feel as I do.

Yes, we care about where we live even though some may not think so.

Yes, we call the police.

In my experience the places that are usually the worst on the block are owned by either people who live in the suburbs or well meaning social service agencies.

Ironic, huh?

So the suburban neighbor that you so enthusiastically great each day may be the single largest contributing cause to crime in any given neighborhood.

Go cluck your tongue and pass your judgments on them.

Because lax tenant screening + credit requirements + non-resident management = a recipe for disaster.

But what do they care?

They keep on getting money that supports their comfortable lifestyles in their practically crime free neighborhoods.

And these well meaning social service agencies are no better.

I didn’t grow up with a silver spoon in my mouth so I very much understand people needing help.

So I know that a lack of financial resources does make you or your family bad people.

Yet because of the fact you or your family may not have the time or the resources to mount a time consuming, draining protest about issues in your neighborhood doesn’t mean you don’t care.

In fact, that’s what I think some dubious people look for.

They look for the people who are the hardest pressed and will squawk the least.

‘Cause it’s a hell of a thing holding down multiple jobs and/or raising children and/or staying on the straight and narrow AND trying to get people to do right by your neighborhood.

Trying to get long time institutions to respect where you live.

Trying to get landlords to treat your neighborhood with the same consideration that they treat their neighborhoods.

Trying to uncover the maze of LLC’s who illegally convert rentals to condos and leave them when they run out of money.

Trying to get the police to pay real attention to those no good thugs on the corner.

It’s exhausting.

If you let it, it can drain your essence.

Trying to fix something that has been broken for a long time takes patience and resourcefulness.

Rome wasn’t built in a day.

That’s a pretty tall bill for working class people who may not be well versed in how the city that works really works.

For those of you who can’t see beyond race, look up how UIC got built and get back to me.

So when I see these cowards hide behind a comment section and spout off about “why those people in that neighborhood don’t do anything” I know they have no idea what they’re talking about.

Because I know that I care about where I live---my neighbors do too.

Some things just fly under the radar.

Suckers

Who in their right mind would allow me to voice my opinions on the radio?

Hey it's not Oprah, but it's a start.

Go Figure

Guess who's on page 63? Thanks for the love Chicago Magazine.

Media Darling

I know I have people who read the blog---the counter keeps on ticking upward everyday.

What surprises me are people who actually make legal money from journalism who give me a tap now and then for my opinion or point other readers to my humble offerings.

It’s extremely validating and flattering in light of the fact I started this blog in order to channel frustration from our association’s dismal state at the time.

Trust me, I know I’m not alone in my condo drama out there. I’ve received enough e-mail from you fellow condo cowboys and cowgirls to continue to fight the power.

Yet when the peeps from Yo!Chicago, Gaper’s Block, The New York Times and the University of Chicago Maroon come calling, it’s an unexpected treat.

I was recently made aware that I Hate My Developer made the Chicagoland blog roll in The Reader.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with The Reader, it’s an alternative newspaper that’s been around for years. Hell I remember first picking it up when I was a wee baby in college.

Aside from helping you keep your entertainment schedule up to date, those kids do some damn fine reporting.

Discussion about the infamous Reader personals section is for another post.

Nonetheless, Whet Moser has seen fit to include my musings in the roll with a long list of amazing local blogs every Chicagoan should have on their reading list.

Does this mean that my Christmas card list will be getting larger? Am I going to have to buy a couple more bottles for the Christmas party?

Only time will tell.

For My Peeps

I'm all in with this Cub playoff run.

Mr. Kass was right, screw this curse thing---we've all got to put it all on the line and get behind our team.

No cautiously optistic. No "goat busters." Just unwaivering support for the team.

And if you ever start to let doubt creep in your mind, you can always remember these words to a hymn I used to sing in church:

"We've come this far by faith/Leaning on the Lord/Trusting in his holy word/He never failed me yet/ Oh, oh can't turn around---we've come this far by faith."

Slowly But Surely

The actual pouring of the cement for the sidewalk across the street is almost done. I would assume that the sod (or groundcover?) would go down by Wednesday of this week.

My only question is if sod is laid, who’s gonna water it? We all know sod needs to be tended like a newborn baby once it goes down. If not you might as well throw your money away.

Pictures will be posted soon. The new sidewalk looks awesome.

My downstairs neighbor is in the process of moving out. Apparently the deal has been struck for the sale of the unit.

Oh yeah, I got quoted in the Wall Street Journal. Go figure the reach of the blog.

Didn't I Just Say That

Chicago magazine (and frankly anyone with good sense) has also noted the damage done to property values due to foreclosures in "emerging" neighborhoods.

One way to minimize any condo association's risk is to lock it down and make it owner occupied only.

That's not to say that owner occupied units won't wind up in foreclosure, but it's my humble opinion that you'll be a little more motivated to save the roof over your head vs. saving the roof over your tennant's head.

I'm just saying...

Represent!

Check out this story on Woodlawn from the nice people at Eight Forty Eight from Chicago Public Radio.

Recognize and Represent!

The Yo

Bias and racism are still very much alive in the Chicago real estate market.

I know it makes people uncomfortable to acknowledge the 800 pound gorilla but ignoring it won’t make it go away.

That’s why the kids at YoChicago are so refreshing.

Now in the interest of disclosure, they did a little blurb about this blog a while back.

That still doesn’t negate the consistently superior work that the Yo does covering all of Chicago neighborhoods.

And when I say all of Chicago’s neighborhoods---I mean ALL of Chicago’s neighborhoods.

Not just the north side.

You see my funky friends if you look at corporate relocation periodicals and moving guides you’ll notice the Maginot Line drawn about at the South Loop with Hyde Park as the lone beacon of civilization on the south side.

But that’s only if you’re an egghead academic and have to be there.

Apparently there is only a small sliver of the city that’s acceptable to live and play in. Therefore those neighborhoods are the only one’s that garner the lion’s share of positive media attention.

Those kids at the Yo seem to think differently about that.

While time---and let’s face it, laziness, prevent me from schlepping around most of this beautiful city; those saucy kids at the Yo do all of the work for me so I don’t have to get up off of my Chipotle soft taco eating ass.

More to the point, I love the fact that the south side and west side gets as much play as any of the premiere neighborhoods to the north and east.

In fact, my perceptions about Austin were changed by the lovely homes I saw in a video entry.

And that interview with Dempsey Travis was priceless.

Now that doesn’t mean I’m gonna rush right out and move, but I’d love to hop in my gay boyfriend’s SUV and house shop affordable Victorians.

We need to plan for our dysfunctional marriage and co-parenting our turkey baster baby with his husband of 16 years.

Such is the knowledge that the Yo imparts.

It seems that the Yo is taking those oft held beliefs about the south side and those of us who choose to make our home here and are smashing them to pieces.

It’s about time.

Child...

And I thought our association was getting the business from our developer---check out this story of woe from our friends at Chicago Magazine.

Beating The Horse Further

Just so you don't think I'm blowing smoke up your ass about this race and neighborhood thing, a cat from Northwestern noticed it too.

Interesting reading.

Lattes and Liquor Bottles

To quote Bob Roberts, the times are a-changin’---back.

I mentioned in last Tuesday’s post a brief history of the decline of Woodlawn and how the demographics in my little hoody hoo are changing.

In short, the white people have called—apparently they want their neighborhoods back.

In my earlier post I alluded how class and race are often a potent mix in Chicago and the outlying suburbs. People don’t want to talk about the elephant in the room but it’s there and it isn’t going away.

The Chicago Sun Times did an excellent article on how race or the perception of the racial demographic of a neighborhood affects the value of a home. While the revelation wasn’t jaw dropping to me, other people were simply amazed.

To be frank, one of the reasons I moved to the south side from the north side because I was tired of being “the exception.”

No matter when or how it’s phrased it has been my experience that somewhere along the line you’ll be praised for how articulate you are and how you’re such as asset to the neighborhood.

That’s modern version of saying that you’re a credit to your race.

Like those individuals had never seen a black woman tend to a flower garden before.

Kids, that weighs on a sister after awhile.

I knew that there are other middle class blacks just like me---I wasn’t a once in a lifetime occurrence. I got tired of being damned with faint praise. I got tired of people raving aobut my facilitation of a near riotous C.A.P.S. meeting yet not recognizing me on the street in non business attire.

But most of all I got tired of some people assuming that the whole of the black race was no good.

Granted, the Jenkins’ Boys are in full effect but they, not the rest of us, are the exception and not the rule.

So I set off for parts unknown. I set off to live in a black neighborhood

Plus it would be easier to sneak into barbeques in the park as Uncle Roscoe’s and Aunt Wanda’s long lost niece.

It also didn’t hurt that the prices south of Madison Street are more affordable.

Well fast forward a couple of years and look what we got; Woodlawn edging toward the precipice of full blown gentrification.

Why am I bringing this up? Why am I flipping the elephant on its head?

The old condo rumor mill is all a twitter with the news that we might be getting our first white neighbor in the association.

Lord Jesus.

While it’s good to hear that one of the foreclosed upon units will be sold to an actual resident owner, I’m kinda torn on this one.

Not only did I want to live in a black neighborhood but I envisioned improving the neighborhood---reinventing it into an upwardly mobile hip happening place; just simply one that’s populated by black people.

Apparently there’s some type of negative stereotype that too many black people can decrease the appearance and property value of a neighborhood.

I don’t know how and why such bullshit got started but it could start to explain the disparity in the home values of Avalon Park and Portage Park.

But I think people are building a bridge and getting over themselves as the homes in Jackson Park Highlands are better than those crap McMansions in Lincoln Park.

The great thing about the Highlands is that it’s an all black neighborhood with historic mansions and rich people.

It’s my dream neighborhood.

I walked through there one day to take a look at my uber house with the wrap around porch and was greeted with looks that could freeze water.

With some of the Highlanders it’s not an issue of color but rather of familiarity. If they don’t know you and you’re not an invited guest, you’re gonna get the stink eye.

I can’t say I blame them as I look at people I don’t know meandering through my neighborhood the same way. If you don’t have a legitimate purpose or a destination---gets to steppin’

Naturally some will think that the positive changes that will start to be seen in the hood may be a direct effect of the changing demographic.

I welcome my new neighbors but it makes me wonder what our home values would have been with the improvements to the neighborhood with the current demographic?

When I bought my first place in Uptown the neighborhood was going through similar changes.

Now the old hood has blown up and home prices have skyrocketed.

Perhaps I’ve become a good indicator of if a neighborhood will increase in value. Perhaps from now on we’ll call it the Woody factor.

Who knew?

Mr. Jackson Continues

Chicago Tribune reporter, David Jackson, is still on his white horse chasing down the money in the mortgage fraud game.

Just in case you missed these two articles amidst your weekend fun, they're worth a look.

Fight the power.

Stop The Presses

Guess who got quoted in an article on condo buying/living in the upcoming June issue of Consumer's Digest?

Run to the newstand and pick one up.

My Alderman Can Kick Your Alderman's Ass

This is why my alder(wo)man kicks so much ass.

Click on this link and enter in the name Leslie Hairston. Then click on the "Luring Retailers" story

Perhaps in a few years I'll be able to do most of my shopping within a two mile radius of my home

Dare to dream.

The Word Is Out

The Chicago Tribune did a nice little story on the 'hood in yesterday's Real Estate section.

Surprise, surprise---the south side is nice and affordable. Read what Ms. Almada wrote about Woodlawn and other south side neighborhoods here.