We're seeing the sad, inevitable results of the flood of water that ran for several days out of the storefronts and condos in the "Mosa Building" at 1016-1032 Leland last Christmas time (see photos here):Foreclosures, real estate auctions and every residential unit in the building unoccupied and for sale.
Not to mention the "crash pads" that local prostitutes, squatters and drug users have found in this nearly empty and easily accessed building.It's another slum-in-the-making. It's already got a date in housing court, and
we hope that's a quick process towards getting some action and redemption.The five-years-in-housing-court-and-still-uninhabitable Sam Alexander Building (1001-1017) is right across the street from the flooded-ravaged "Mosa Building."
UU will post housing court dates when they occur and hopes one or two readers can come to each court hearing to make the judge aware that the community will do everything it can to ensure this one block of Leland doesn't become "Slumlord Row."
I wonder how much the owner gave to Helen's campaign? Clearly this has been shoddy work all along.
ReplyDeleteIt's another slum-in-the-making.
ReplyDeleteI'd argue that it's already been made.
How 'bout, instead of purchasing land for a possible parking solution, we spend some of that sweet, sweet TIF money on turning this parcel around?
Good question!
ReplyDeleteThanks to the wonderful "Helen's Money" website, it was easy to see that Sunil Mosa gave $500 to Helen on July 8, 2006.
Naturally, he lives in Elmhurst. Far from the mess we walk past every day.
This is where court advocates can be helpful!
ReplyDeleteThe only way to resolve this is to have the building put into receivership. Housing court judges can do this. This is a huge problem building, a classic example of the real estate scams that went on during the boom.
If the properties are bank owned, the city can force the banks to board and secure the property.
This is also a classic example how taxpayer money could be spent to create affordable housing in a sensible way. I would bet that $500,000.00 would easily bring this building back into shape. Of course, such a plan would bail out the banks.
Speaking of buildings that need help, anyone have any information on the building on the SW corner of Leland and Broadway? Was supposed to be condos, "The Lights on Broadway," then the owner died/was killed over a year ago, and now it is sitting there with little activity. A real eyesore.
ReplyDelete"(sarcasm)" Magical City Guy, 500k would buy 1.25 of a unit in Wilson Yard..so your math is CLEARLY wayy off base. Seriously, get with it man! "(\sarcasm)"
ReplyDeleteThis building, and the one at the NW corner of Winthrop and Leland, were targeted to be razed and replaced with two mid-rise developments. Both proposals were scuttled as I and others worked to ensure that the needed zoning variances were not approved.
ReplyDeleteThe proposals were troublesome because: 1.) The concentrations would have been too high and the parking plans were insufficient. Remember, the highrise adjacent to the Chase branch at Lawrence and Winthrop was still on the books, and 2.) Smart money knew that the real estate bubble was about to burst and that a glut of empty market rate housing in Uptown would be especially painful for those who bought near the peak. Had these developments been built, condo prices in the area would have taken an even bigger hit.
Instead of razing the building at the NW corner of Winthrop and Leland, the existing building was converted and those units sold out. With good reason, I think. They're lovely.
The flood-damaged building was supposed to have been converted similarly but it was not done competently. From the get-go, it was schlocky---from demo to systems. What I want to know is how did any of it pass inspection?