Developer Getting Sued by Association Then Buys a New Building for New Condos. Huh?

Blagica Stefanovski, NBC5 Street Team (Video)

The real estate world in Chicago plays like a Mexican novela, with a twist of the Sopranos, minus the murder.

First, the recent federal investigation of Bridgeport land dealings made me look at my Bridgeport-born fiance and say, ‘what are yous doing down dare in Bridgeport with Hizzonor’. Then, the news about the condo association’s issue with the Chicago Spire developer made me think, ‘good Lord, did Kelleher not do his research about the land required?‘.

Now, I just read an article about Chicago developer, William Warman and his recent purchase of a building at 300 N. Michigan Avenue. This is the same Warman that is being sued by the condo association at 1717 S. Prairie Avenue. The association is stuck with a special assessment between $3-$4 Million. The windows are leaking and they are suing Warman, from what I’ve been told, for construction issues. Also, I was told by friends that live IN the 1717 Prairie building that their turnover money seems to have gone ‘lost’.

It’s a free country and people can buy what they want to buy, but the fact that a developer can have a lawsuit pending and tell that association that he is bankrupt and then buy A NEW building (on Michigan Avenue no less) seems a bit odd to me?

Is it just me or does something smell like a rotten piece of Italian Beef that’s been in the garbage for a while?

One thing I forgot to note:
Developers can have various LLCs, dissolve them then conduct business under new LLCs. I think Warman was operating the 1717 Prairie development under 18th & Prairie II LLC, thus not attached to him as an individually, which presents less liability for developers. Sad that a few bad apples make it rough for developers’ reputations in the city.

Sorry, guys, but y’all should get some kind of pow-wow together to stop this sorta thing.

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