Forest Park Review 050824

By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ Staff Reporter

T he search for a superintendent at Proviso High School Township District 209 appears to be stalled after board member called on her colleagues to begin a new search

During the April board meeting, member Arbdella Patterson said there were inconsistencies and a lack of transparency in the search to re place James L. Henderson, who resigned last summer.

That be gs the question: What happens next?

So far, it’s not clear.

At a meeting last month, for mer board president See SUPERINTENDENT on pa ge 7

Roman Pizza at Publican Quality Bread

David Hammond Contributing Reporter

Publican Quality Bread (PQB) is now open in Oak Park (211 Harrison St.), turning out fresh breads in many shapes and sizes, as well as other baked goods (like pizza) under the direction of Greg Wade, 2019 James Beard Outstanding Pastry Chef/Baker. This is a big deal. We have some outstanding bakeries in Oak Park, but to have a baker of this caliber in the village will significantly up our bread — and pizza — game.

Like many, I grew up with tavern-style pizza. This was a flat pie with a crisp crust cut into squares, “party style,” originally served for free at Chicago bars where patrons could grab a relatively small slice of salty cheese and sausage pizza … and buy more beer to wash it down.

Chicago is also home to deep dish pizza, of course, the hefty version of pizza first of fered at what is now Uno’s Pizzeria. Rudy Malnati worked at Uno’s, and his son, Lou, started the pizza empire that has a location in Oak Park.

All these pies are different from the gen-

erally reco gnized *original* pizza from Naples, Italy — the Margherita, light and thin, with toppings of just mozzarella, crushed tomatoes and basil, and a moist center that’s traditionally almost soupy.

Roman pizza has a thicker crust, much like bruschetta, and a wide range of toppings. Roman pie is usually sold by the piece (or al taglio, by the cut), and it was first served in the 1960s using high-protein flours that became popular during World War II and that help develop a crisp, thicker crust.

The substantial crust of Roman pizza puts an emphasis upon the bread, and that’s where Berwynite Greg Wade and his team at PQB shine. More substantial than tavern style, but less daunting than deep dish, Roman pizza treads the line between the two classic Chicago pizzas, tavern style and deep dish.

At the opening event, I chatted with Wade about his ’za.

“I’m really excited about the ve ggie pizza,” said Wade. “We’re doing a classic Roma-style pizza dough with an arrabiata sauce, which is a slightly spicy garlicky tomato sauce. And then we’re getting

Tthese really fantastic dried tomatoes. They’re not sun dried: they’re halfway between a fresh tomato and a sun-dried tomato, with dee p, concentrated flavor but without the rubbery texture.

“Another one I’m really excited about,” he continued, “is the sausage and mushroom pizza. We’re doing a garlic-forward kale pesto for the sauce, and we’re using blue oyster mushrooms from Four Star Mushrooms, which are fantastic. We make the sausage in-house.”

claimed Chicago restaurants like Big Star and The Publican.

Sausa ge making is notoriously timeconsuming and messy, but the focus on hand-crafted quality is what we’d expect from One Of f Hospitality Group. Oak Parker Donny Madia is a partner at One Of f, which has brought to Chicago ac-

Sponsored Content

PQB is good for the village, drawing people from other western suburbs and breathing new life into the Harrison Street neighborhood, which deserves more attention than it sometimes seems to receive. Pizza is served 4 to 8 p.m. every day. David Hammond writes a blog for Oak Park Eats at oakpark.com.

From Pantry to Plate: Cooking for a Cause!

he competition at Beyond Hunger’s Healthy Chef Challenge heats up on May 30 at Goose Island Barrel House. Three chefs from across Chicagoland will battle to make a gourmet entree using items commonly found in our food pantry. A panel of celebrity judges will determine which chef reigns supreme!

Join us for the competition, participate in our silent auction, engage in cooking demos by our Health Ambassadors, and enjoy food catered by BOKA plus open bar with wine and beer!

General Admission Tickets are $75 or you can opt for a VIP ticket ($150) which includes early admission, meet & greet

with the chefs & judges, a specialty swag bag, and a Goose Island tour with tasting.

Last year event revenues were enough to provide over 130,000 healthy and nutritious meals. Your support and attendance are crucial as we serve 52,000 individuals, the most households we have ever seen.

DAVID HAMMOND

Greg Wade, Publican Quality Bread

Liz Abunaw and Phil Vettel. Photos courtesy of Matt Kosterman

The Andy Zimmerman Situation

Thursday, May 9, 6:30 p.m., Rober t’s Westside Rober t’s Westside presents: The Andy Zimmerman Situation. General admission tickets are $12 plus service fees, while reserved seating is priced at $15 plus service fees. 7321 Madison St., Forest Park

FUNS Spring Fling

Saturday, May 11 at 2 p.m., Rober t’s Westside

FUNS Spring Fling: A community-building fundraising event for grown ups. 7321 Madison St., Forest Park

Tai Chi

Monday, May 13, 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. , Forest Park Public Library

Class involves a series of movements performed in a slow, gentle way. Focus on breathing and body awareness in this slowmoving form of meditation. Funds in part for this program were provided by an award from AgeOptions through funding from the American Rescue Plan Act. 7555 Jackson Blvd., Forest Park

BIG WEEK

May 8 - 15

Kawaii and Chibi Drawing Workshop

Wednesday, May 15, 4-5 p.m. Forest Park Public Library

Are you a fan of manga? Do you love ever ything kawaii? Come draw with us. We will o er instruction but allow time for your own drawing as well. Designed for ages 10-13. 7555 Jackson Blvd., Forest Park

Meet GCM's education reporter, Amaris E. Rodriguez

Monday, May 13, 5 - 7 p.m., Forest Park Library

Curious about how education reporters work? Have a tip? Or would you just like to come by and say hi? Meet Amaris, the area's education repor ter, at the Forest Park Library community room. No RSVP required. 7555 Jackson Blvd., Forest Park

Tuesday, May 14, 4-5 p.m., Forest Park Public Library

Calling all crafty kids. We learn together as we try to recreate projects from Creativebug every week. Will we nail it — or fail it? Can you outdo us? Designed for ages 6 and older. 7555 Jackson Blvd., Forest Park

Pizza Movie Night -

The Secret Life of Pets

Friday, May 10, 6:15 - 8 p.m., Park District of Forest Park Friday movie nights are back. Parents, are you looking for a night out on your own? Drop your child o at the Park District of Forest Park, we will take care of the enter taining and dinner. A child-friendly movie will be shown and pizza, chips, popcorn and a beverage will be ser ved. Spaces are limited and you must pre-register: https://tinyurl.com/ynp33ch2 Building 4, 7501 Harrison St., Forest Park y 11, 4:30 - 8:30 p.m,

Listing your event in the calendar

Forest Park Review welcomes notices about events that Forest Park community groups and businesses are planning. We’ll work to get the word out if you let us know

what’s happening by noon Wednesday a week before your news needs to be in the newspaper

■ Email details to calendar@wjinc.com

Aldi heads to Forest Park

Save your shopping cart quarter — Aldi opens later this year

By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter

Aldi grocery store will open in the fo rmer Bed Bath and Beyond building at 215 Harlem Avenue, a ccording to the Vi llage of Fo rest Pa rk .

“The Vi llage is ve ry excited to welcome

building’s roof and ceiling have b een re paired, and Aldi will i nstall refrig erator s, free zers and cashier stations.

“The Department of Public Health and Safety has b een quietly wo rk ing with Aldi for nearly a year on the buildout logistics and project timeline,” village officials said in a statement.

Bed Bath and Beyond closed on Harlem Avenue in March 2023, a month before the national home g oods chain declared b ankruptcy. Bed Bath and Beyond had b een at that location since 2004.

T he building started as a National Te a

ministrator Rachell E ntler said in an email. “The a ddition of Aldi will a dd a grocery store to the North s ide of town, giving residents of Fo rest Pa rk , Oak Pa rk and Rive r Fo rest another af fordable food retailer option.”

Aldi’s architectural plans have been reviewed, and the grocery store is ready for a building permit, according to Ryan Nero, commissioner of public health and safety. Aldi corporate officials conducted the building’s lease ne gotiations and told village staf f that they will award bids to build out the grocery store in the next few weeks. C hanges to the building will include a dding a space to a ccommodate d eliveri es and redesigning the facade to match Aldi’s branding, a ccording to E ntler. Sh e a dded that, over the past few months, the

cery store in 1981. It renewe d i ts l ife later as a drug store, an auto service shop, and , wh i le the Oak Pa rk Public L ibrary was being built in 2002, a temporary mai n branch for the library

A lthough p ast grocery stores didn’t succeed in this location, Fo rest Pa rk is hopeful that Aldi will.

“I think that people are looking for convenience. Aldi has taken on a national presence. They are providing food at af fordable prices,” Entler told the Review. “They have a value that has become something that families are wrapping their hands around. People want food stability and not to spend their whole paycheck on it.”

E ntler said c onstruction will li ke ly start in a few weeks, and Aldi will be open for business later this year

Bed Bath and Beyond on Harlem Avenue in Forest Park

CTA proposes new billboard, residents adamantly oppose it

Local residents argue it would be an eyesor

By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter

W hen husband-and-wife Gerry S antor a and Bernadette M cLain rece ived a notice in their mailbox on a Saturday alerting them that on Mond ay, April 15, Fo rest Pa rk ’s p lanning and zoning c ommission would meet to discuss re zoning pa rt of the 711 Des Plaines Ave. property for a new billboard, they we re a bit shocke d.

“We had no idea that it was even in pl ay We really didn’t know anything about it,” M cLain said. “From our perspect ive, we we re blindsided and not happy, to say the least. ”

“We we re j ust really surprised that nobody knew about thi s, ” S antora sai d about his neighbors on the 600 block of Lathrop Ave., where the c ouple has live d for seven year s.

T he CTA proposed the 120-foot-tall billboard with two, 60-foot-wide LED screens that are always on, though they’re dimmed at night, at the southeast corner of the CTA Blue Line station in Forest Park.

T he CTA pitched the billboard to adve rt i se g oods and services, a ccording to a staf f re po rt made last month by St eve Glinke, director of the village ’s department of public health and safety. Because the billboard is slated to be on

CTA property, Fo rest Pa rk wo money from the billboard’s ad ments. CTA said it ’s still in discussion with the village and will have q uestions at a later date.

And some residents are not happ

“It’s ugly, it ’s an eyesore, it ’s g laring i nto our windows and our neigh bors’ wind ows, ” said B ridgett who has live d on the 600 block of rop Avenue for the last 18 y 500 f eet from the proposed billboard.

“For something that big and d oesn’t bring any reve nue to our to “I f there was reve nue c oming the town, that’s a different value proposition,” S antora said. “W hy are we even wasting money on meetings and fighting about this if there’s literally no b enefit s to the town? ”

D oes Fo r est Park ha ve jurisdic tion over billboards?

Municipalities li ke Fo rest Pa rk aren’t the authority on whether billboards are i nstalled. A lthough approval for billb oards is re g ulated at a state le vel by the I llinois Department of Transporta tion, new billboards must c omply with Fo rest Pa rk ’s local ordinances.

Because 711 Des Plaines Ave. is in an

industrial district, the village ’s depa rtment of public health and safety would need to p ass a c onditional use pe rm it to i nstall a billboard there.

T he c onditional use pe rm it was disc ussed in the April 15 p lanning and zoning commission meeting .

Fo rest Pa rk ’s Vi llage Code requires the village to publish a notice of a public hearing in a g enerally circulated paper at least 15 days before the hearing. A public notice was printed in the March 27 issue of the Fo rest Pa rk Review. T he code

also requires notices to be mailed no less than seven days before the public hearing to those within 250 f eet of the subject of the application, in this c ase, the billb oard – wh ich is why S antora, McLain and their neighbors rece ived the notice.

“I think the real takeaway here, in my o pinion, is how do we, going forward, do a b etter job of info rm ing the c ommunit y?” S antora said. “Only a few neighbors

See BILLBOARD on pa ge 19

ADOBE STOCK

SUPERINTENDENT

A second search? from page 1

Amanda Grant said she was “not sure how this process is going to go” and “not sure how it is going to end.” Her remarks came ahead of the board’s restructure set for the May 14 meeting.

Hazard Young Attea Associates, the district’s search firm, declined comment in the interest of fair ness.

But Patricia Sullivan-Viniard, director of the executive searches department of the Illinois Association of School Boards, said that generally speaking, the board can request a do-over.

“We [IASB] have a guarantee of service that says that a board will not be forced to settle for a hire that they are not in ag reement [with or] that their next superintendent is in the group that we have brought them,” she said, adding that she cannot speak about specific cases.

But, she said, “it d oes not happe n ve ry often. ”

Finding a new superintendent

Although every hiring agency works differently, Sullivan-Viniard explained, before a search begins, most assess a district’s needs.

“We just have conversation, and of course, an open session at the beginning with the board and whoever else [to get] a sense of what the district really needs in their next leader, she said.

T he information is gathered through stakeholder surveys, including the board of education, staf f members, parents, guardians, community members, and students. In-person focus groups are also often conducted

Some findings are enlightening. For example, “we are also finding out the importance of things like residing in the district, previous experience as a superintendent, and the will of the people,” she said.

After this, the data collected is typically presented to the board of education during open session before a “announcement of vacancy,” or their form of a job posting and job description, is published.

As part of the search, many districts ag ree to sign confidentiality ag reements with candidates. Grant, for example, said at the end of April, that the search had been compromised because some board members refused to sign a confidentiality ag reement. HYA, their contractor, said this was standard practice.

Sullivan-Viniard said that while every agency may not require that, most do, in part because candidates want them.

“They don’t want to burn a bridge where they are,” Sullivan-Viniard said. “They might not even make it to a final, so they don’t want their names out.”

But after someone becomes a finalist, confidentiality expectations tend to be taken of f the table, especially as interviews with stakeholder groups are brought into play

“In most cases, the board will not release the names of the finalists, but that is up to the board. Sometimes they do,” she said. “But we [IASB] will honor confidentiality as much as possible for as long as possible.”

Next steps

If Patterson calls for reopening the selection process, the district has several options.

Members can request that an earlier candidate be brought back for more interviews. This doesn’t often happen because search firms typically nar row the candidates who best fit the district’s needs. The board has also been a part of the process of nar rowing down the candidates as the search progressed.

Starting from scratch could delay a hire until the 2025-26 year because it is so late in the game, Sullivan-Viniard said.

“It is almost May, and July 1 is when a superintendent starts,” she said. “The fiscal year for a school district is July 1 to June 30. In most cases, that is the work year for educators and anyone in the district. Generally, superintendents star t

Students outside of Proviso Math and Science Academy in Forest Park, where District 209 central o ces are housed.

July 1 and if one is retiring, their retirement date is June 30.”

Candidates could also accept another job. And the cost of redoing a search? That is also depending on the contract.

“Everyone does it a little bit differently,” said Sullivan-Viniard.

According to a comment by Patterson, the district paid HYA $30,000 for the search. Perhaps the biggest issue is whether the board can decide together to move or to acce pt the current candidates.

“It depends why the board was not able to reach consensus,” she said. “We [hiring agencies] bring them the best and strongest candidates. And when we take a slate of candidates to the board, we believe the next superintendent is in that group. We are not just bringing someone to round up numbers. We are taking candidates and believe any of them could do the job and do the job well.”

Patterson said during the last April

meeting that there was “inconsistency in this process.”

“It has nothing to do with politics,” she said. “If you are going to do it, do it right, be transparent. That is all I am asking, and that did not take place.”

HYA likely will try to see if they can help resolve this issue, Sullivan-Viniard, said.

“It does not harm a search to have it relaunched,” she said. “People know that things happen and sometimes a board cannot reach consensus. And when it is a desirable district, in a desirable location, with a good re putation, sometimes no matter how great the district is, things can happen that can cause a search to pause or pivot. Usually when we [IASB] do a relaunch of a search it has a very successful and satisfactory ending.”

The next Proviso board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 14 at Proviso Math and Science Academy.

Man repor ts cousin borrowed his car for shooting in Chicago

By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter

On April 29, police re ported they were looking for a car, re gistered to its owner living at the 7300 block of Roosevelt Road, in connection with a shooting that had just occur red in Chicago. The car was parked on the street, and the driver was taken into custody. According to the police re port, he then told officers that his cousin is a member of the Latin King gang and had just bor rowed his car, returning it while wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, sweating and breathing hard. There was not enough cause to arrest the driver or tow the car.

Motorcycle crash

Police were dispatched April 28 to assist in a motorcycle accident in the 7200 block of Roosevelt. Officials said the motorcyclist was unconscious, sustained injuries to his body and neck and was transported to Loyola University Medical Center. A witness told

police that the motorcyclist hit the curb and flew from his seat. There were no criminal charges in the accident.

Battery

■ Police were dispatched to the CTA Blue Line station April 27 to address an assault. The complainant, who appeared to be intoxicated or under the influence of narcotics, according to the police report, was transported to Rush Oak Park Hospital. On April 29, he came to the police station to report that a K9 security employee, whom he was unable to provide a name or description for, pushed him to the ground and stole his cigarettes and $20. No one has been charged in the battery, and the man told police he would make a report of the incident for his lawyer

■ On April 29, police arrived at Walmart be cause two employees were fighting. Accord ing to the police report, the victim had swelling and bruising around his face. He told officers that his coworker approached him, called him a “hoe” and began hitting him in

the face, reportedly because of a woman they both had a sexual relationship with. The man signed a complaint against his coworker for battery, according to the police report.

■ Police responded to Dunkin’ Donuts April 30 for reports of a battery. An employee told officers that a woman came into the store and ordered two drinks, then complained they were wrong and requested a refund. The employee told her she would be unable to give a refund, since her manager wasn’t present. According to the police report, the woman started throwing coffee cups that were on display, tossed two buckets of dirty mop water at the employee, then went behind the counter and knocked over two jugs of syrup before leaving the store. The employee said she’d sign a complaint if the offender could be located

woman who was there, but a check in the police system didn’t show an unserved order against the woman, according to the police report The man provided police with court documents showing an order of protection hearing May 3, and police relayed the information to the woman. The woman later called the police department and reported that the man removed the child from school and took him into custody, violating the court order, and that she wanted to sign complaints against him.

These items were obtained from Forest Park Police Department reports dated April 28 through May 1 and represent a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Anyone named in these reports has only been charged with a crime and cases have not yet been ad-

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Burger Moovment gets a new boss

The menu, the staff stay the same

By RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR Contributing Reporter

Burger Moovment hasn’t moved, but it has changed hands. This beloved local slice of Americana has new owners who are just as dedicated to keeping the same high quality and flavor-packed menu that has been thrilling burger-lovers for the past 12 years.

When the restaurant at 7512 W. North Avenue in Elmwood Park was put up for sale Muhammad Komail and his partner Syed Mehdi decided to take a look. They were impressed with the offerings and the cleanliness of both the front and back of house.

“We just fell in love with it. The whole staff and everybody was great. And plus the food!” said Komail.

Komail previously worked in the tech field but felt a calling to be an entrepreneur. It was Mehdi who had the idea to run a restaurant together.

“We have known each other for over 18 years. He is like an older brother to me,” said Komail.

The new owners insist that Burger Moovment is staying the same. “We’re not changing anything drastic in the menu. The only thing that did change slightly was the turkey burgers. “I’d like to officially apologize to everybody who was coming here for the turkey burgers.” Komail said it is a supply chain issue and even turkey burgers will be back on the menu as soon as possible.

Signature burgers, like the South of the Moovment and the Carolina Gold Crispy Chicken, still keep company with the ever popular 8 a.m. Burger, which pairs a double meat patty with a fried egg. There is a

choose-your-own-adventure model, where ingredients can be piled on to satisfy individual tastes. And don’t forget their signature Moov sauce –secret recipe, but familiar to all burger lovers. Each month there are special offerings. In May a Torta de Mayo burger slips the flavors of Mexico between the buns. And there’s a featured shake. This month it’s dulce de leche. The two team up to create a Cinco de Mayo-themed double feature.

Premium shakes come in chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, cookies & cream, and caramel on the regular and are topped with a mound of whipped cream.

RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR

New boss Muhammad Komail

Fresh cut fries are a favorite. Each morning pounds of fresh potatoes are prepped for their transformation into crispy fried perfection in 100% vegetable oil. Sweet potatoes, tater tots and onion rings all get the golden treatment too.

In the past Burger Moovment was only on one delivery platform, but now most services can bring these taste sensations to customer’s doors.

The restaurant was also a regular supporter of local youth sports teams and other organizations. Komail and Mehdi will continue to weave the burger restaurant into the community.

One change that they’ve made, they see as an opportunity to enhance community outreach.

“When we purchased the restaurant, we wanted to make it open to all the communities in the area. So the menu is now 100% halal. This way it opens up for the Muslim community,” said Komail.

People with other dietary restrictions

can get their burger on too. Vegan Impossible patties and fish sandwiches extend the possibilities. Gluten-free buns and lettuce wraps are on offer as well.

“So pretty much anybody who wants to eat can eat,” said Komail.

One addition to the menu is wings. Great to go with the house dipping sauces: smoked BBQ sauce, honey mustard, cheese sauce, spicy chipotle, MOOV sauce, Carolina gold BBQ.

The business partners plan to franchise the restaurant. Until then Komail says they will “… keep focusing on the quality. That was something that I fell in love with and that’s what I want to continue.”

The Details: burgermoovment.com

7512 W. North Ave., Elmwood Park

Hours: Monday-Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday Noon to 9 p.m.

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Bellwood family mourns 16-year-old killed in car crash

e Proviso West student died April 5

By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ Staff Reporter

It was like any other Friday night as the Gutiér re z household took a quick trip to get dinner.

But at about 9 p.m. that April 5, just three blocks from their Bellwood home, a car crashed into them in a hit-and-run.

María René Gutiérrez Santos, 16, a student at Proviso West, was killed

A smar t, studious ‘prac tical joker’

As a little girl growing up Guatemala, María René had an infectious personality, Oscar Gutiérrez, her father said.

“She told me it was hard to leave behind family and friends,” said Amparo Gutiérrez, 19, María René’s sister

But the sisters leaned on each other. And made it

After a local family agreed to sponsor them, Oscar Gutiérrez, his wife Brenda Santos, 49, and their three daughters began to settle into their new home.

“We wanted to give them a better life, an opportunity at an education,” Oscar said. “It is different here. It’s a more developed country. There are more opportunities to become a professional.”

But it wasn’t easy

Marilyn Gutiérrez said María René struggled learning English at first, but as she grew confident in the new language, she began to participate more in school clubs and activities, including dance.

Her dream, Marilyn a dded, was to be a lawyer

“She was very respectful, very studious but she was also a goofball, a practical joker,” recalled her father. “She was also very smart.”

Oscar Gutiérrez said she was a “daddy’s girl,” always wanting to tag along wherever he went.

María René also loved volunteering in her community, donating both her time and her belongings to others in need.

That dream has long run deep in her family. Her dad was studying to be a lawyer when family obligations caused him to drop out of school. Her sister, Katherin Gutiérrez, had one year left in law school when she died. María René wanted to fulfill that dream.

Ana Sanchez, 16, met María René while at Proviso East and the two became close friends.

When the 2018 Volcán de Fuego eruption occurred in Guatemala, she donated most of her toys to children who had been impacted by the eruption.

“She also donated her clothes,” Oscar Gutiérrez said. “She wanted to help others.”

This wasn’t the first time the fami ly had to say a hard goodbye to a daughter and a sister Katherin Gutiérrez, the oldest of Gutiérrez’s daughters, died in 2019 while they were still in Guatemala.

“We have always been close, but we grew closer when our oldest sister died,” said Marilyn Gutiérrez, 18. “She became a lot closer to us after that.”

The sisters continued to be each other’s best friends, leaning on each other as they packed up their lives in Guatemala to pursue the American Dream.

That Americ an Dream

The family arrived in Illinois in March 2022, after a few months’ stay in Mexico while they waited for their asylum to be approved.

The journey, as one might guess, was stressful for the family

“She made everything fun,” Ana said. “Even if it was a normal day, a normal pool hangout, she made sure we all always had fun.”

The now

The Gutiérrez family is juggling grief while healing from their own with injuries.

María René’s mom, Brenda Santos, remains hospitalized for broken bones and blood clots. She spent five days in the ICU after the accident.

Because of this, she did not immediately lear n her daughter died.

“We once again saw the heartbreak and the pain of losing a daughter, losing a sister,” Amparo Gutiérrez said.

María René’s funeral was held Monday, April 29.

“We left our country to follow the American Dream that we say exists,” Oscar Gutiérrez said. “We came, but we didn’t know we would suffer this loss ... we didn’t know what the future held.”

“Like every immigrant, we say that we made it,” he added. ‘But, sadly, we lost our daughter.”

BILLBOARD

Visual

g ot those cards and handouts and the whole c ommunity didn’t, even thoug h this thing is going to loom 100 f eet in the a ir and everybo dy is going to see it.”

At the public hearing, wh ich S antor a and five or so of his neighbors attended , the p lanning and zoning c ommission addressed the seven i tems that need to be met to approve a c onditional use pe rm it for the billboard. T he staf f re po rt lists these items, including:

■ T he sign will be entirely c ontained on the subject property and will not interfere with the use or enjoyment of the sur rounding proper ties

■ T he proposed sign is limited in size and scop e, and is entirely c onfined to the subject proper ty

■ T he proposed sign will be limited to the subject property and will not impact traf fic congestion on local streets

■ T he proposed use will not chang e the use allowances or established character of the subject proper ty

Because the billboard d oesn’t violate any of these i tems, the p lanning and zoning c ommission recommended the village c ouncil ’s approval of the request for a c onditional use pe rm it, a ccording to the staf f re po rt .

But some residents said they do n’ t ag ree with that decision.

“Its i ntent is to be seen and distracting,” M cLain said of the billboard. “It’s j ust so c ontrary to the reality and wh at will impact the people.”

“Zoning is in place to protect the community, right? Why would we consider the release of a zoning ordinance?” McLain added. “That’s doing just the opposite. It’s not like it’s improving our town.”

“It’s the one fo rm of adve rt ising that you c an neve r escap e, ” S antora said. “Whether you li ke it or not, you’ re goin g to see these adve rt i sements. Th at ’s probably the most troubling thing.”

This sentiment is c ommon among the c ouple’s neighbors

“We’ re t rying to attract q uality businesses, tenants and p eople who are willing to pay the taxes that we pay here in Fo rest Pa rk ,” said another resident of the 600 block of Lathrop Ave. du ring public c omment at a village c ouncil meeting April 22. “Vi sual appeal is big ,

and being able to sleep well at night, not have something flashing and t rying to sell you something, is ve ry important to me and a lot of p eople’s f amily values in the neighborhood.”

Residents also argue that a billboard will affect energy consumption and pr operty values. While an LED billboard takes more energy than a traditional billboard, McLain, who’s a realtor, said it could also impact the local housing market.

“I f you have a choice of buying a home that has a billboard in front of it or in view ve r sus one that d oesn’t, you’ re

going to choose the one that d oesn’t It definitely reduces the buying p ool, ”

M cLain said.

A second p lanning and zoning c ommission meeting discussing the CTA billboard will take p lace May 20 at 7 p. m. in Vi llage Hall.

“I was told the only thing we c ould do is w rite our c ouncil and c ommissioners and c ome to the meeting and make a public statement,” M cLain said. “Nobo dy would want a billboard that’s in view of their home. I do n’ t know anybo dy who would ask for that. ”

If you do, you should know how important foot care is. Over time, diabetics risk developing foot complications. When the nerves are damaged from chronic high blood sugar, feet can become numb or painful with burning or tingling. is is called diabetic neuropathy. When diabetes a ects the arteries, circulation to the legs and feet may be compromised. Either of these conditions may lead to serious problems including ulceration, even amputation.

e key to prevention is early diagnosis of diabetes, and regular foot exams from a podiatrist. Diabetics who receive regular foot care, including paring of calluses and debridement of thick fungal toenails, are almost four times less likely

to undergo an amputation than those who do not seek treatment.

Medicare and some private insurances cover 1 pair of diabetic shoes and 3 pair of protective insoles each calendar year. Dr. Lambert has been a supplier of diabetic shoes since 2002. e shoes come in 30 di erent styles each for men and women. ese include boots, lightweight colorful athletic shoes, and dress shoes. Even patients who are not diabetic love the look and comfort of the footwear. Diabetic socks, slippers and compression hosiery are also available.

Protecting your feet with appropriate footgear is an important aspect of preventive care for diabetics.

OPINION

OUR VIEW

Another Ike billboard?

Electronic billboards are full tilt visual pollution. And over the past 15 years, the stretch of Forest Park along the Ike expressway has been inundated with these monster ad boards

Bad enough when they intrude on the intended audience of drivers tooling along the highway. But much worse when a billboard’s flashing messages intrude into a residential neighborhood

That’s the frustration of Forest Park homeowners who live near Desplaines Avenue and the highway as the CTA moves ahead with a revenue generating — for them — digital billboard on the land it owns at the Blue Line ter minus.

This invader will stand 120 feet high and 60 feet wide. All LED lit. And 24 hours a day. The CTA needed to apply to Forest Park for a conditional-use permit as the land is zoned for industrial use. The village’s planning and zoning commission heard the CTA’s appeal in mid-April. A second meeting will be held by the commission on May 20.

Ultimately the commission’s recommendation will go to the village council for its decision. The CTA says it is still in discussions with village staf f. Unclear to us what legal leeway the village may have to actually block this billboard. And what sort of compromise would bring some balm to neighbors who will have this 12-story ad looming over their homes forever?

We’re a bit surprised that one impacted neighbor seemed specifically insulted that Forest Park would gain no share of revenue from the billboard. “If there was revenue coming back to the town, that’s a different value proposition,” he told the Review.

A magnanimous take. But certainly something for the village to bargain over with the CTA. What other tools does the village have to block this billboard? Tur ns out it is IDOT, which actually has the power to limit the proliferation of billboards along the state’s highways. Lobbying that state agency is worth pursuing.

It should not be assumed that Forest Parkers, who already live with the perpetual buzz of the Ike and the auto emissions that infiltrate their neighborhood, should simply absorb this added intrusion into their lives.

Aldi’s arrival

In a time when retail is extremely hard to attract, it is great news that the former Bed Bath & Beyond on Harlem Avenue will soon become an Aldi grocery store. That is a strong use for this expansive site. Property taxes will flow. Jobs will be created. And a legitimately distinctive grocery niche — discounted prices with good quality and modern amenities — will offer a welcome shopping option for our area.

A potential negative within this success is the current plan by Gov. JB Pritzker to eliminate the state sales tax on groceries. We get the impulse to eliminate what is a re gressive tax but losing those pennies on each dollar spent on groceries in the village will be a real loss for the coming Aldi’s but also the Walmart and Living Fresh Market.

Towns are still pushing to block this change, but it seems likely to happen.

Legends are legends for a reason

The Rolling Stones are coming to Chicago again. I have absorbed a great deal of Stones knowledge and experiences via marriage, so of course I saw their museum exhibit in New York a few years ago.

It was a reasonably typical pop-up museum: memorabilia and a re-creation of Mick and Keith’s first apar tment and some multimedia presentations on the band, that sort of thing. The part of it that has stuck with me is a small video presentation on the history of their tours, starting with a local one in England, up through the present day (then maybe 2017), having played on six continents. The presentation ended with an announcement of future tours already being planned and the phrase, “If you are wondering how long they can keep this up, rest assured, they are just as curious as you are.”

ALAN

BROUILETTE

Over the last couple of trips I have taken to Las Ve gas, ve made a point of taking the opportunity to see great showmen on the downside of their careers. Not the guys who are on the back nine, the guys who are teeing it up on 18. I find this genre so fascinating. The Rolling Stones are still playing to stadium crowds, and God bless them for it, but perfor mers like Wayne Newton and Rich Little, who have been famous for longer than I have been alive, are still doing their shows, too, but in front of 20-50 people a night.

Both of them rank among my favorite solo performances I have ever seen. What got them where they were in the first place still shines through, but what’s really endearing is that they are still out there, well into their 80s, doing the same acts that once made them megastars. You get the sense they do it not because they don’t know how to do anything else but because they absolutely love doing this and cannot imagine doing anything else with their lives.

Rich Little’s show is a time capsule. He’s still doing impressions of Nixon and John Wayne and Jack Benny. Howard Cosell! In 2024! He has added nothing I could see to his re per toire since approximately Johnny Carson retired (his Carson is terrific, by the way). He told terrible Catskills jokes in ancient-history voices, and the joy just shines right through. You get the sense that once the ticket buyers dry up, he might turn to busking. I loved it.

Wayne Newton has been a paid performer in Las Ve gas since he was 15. He has had an uncanny, valley-level of cosmetic work done, but the happiness he got from telling a few stories and singing a few songs to 40 paying fans was unmissable. He re peatedly told the audience how grateful he was for them, and I do not believe anyone in the room even briefly questioned his sincerity. And all the more delightful: I am pretty sure Wayne doesn’t have to work.

I have mentioned before that movies became my pandemic hobby. One of the things we have discovered about watching old movies is that great classics are mostly considered great classics with good reason. (The two exceptions to this so far: Ra ging Bull and The Graduate, both inexplicably beloved and admired.) The thing about le gendary performers, even the ones who have moved into self-caricature, is the same: Legends are le gends for a reason.

Boomers rule

The rugged group of Americans who survived the Great Depression and won World War II is often referred to as the “Greatest Generation.” They were immediately followed by my generation, the Baby Boomers.

I asked a fellow Boomer if chronologically coming on the heels of the Greatest Generation made us the second greatest generation. His reply was, “Not even close.”

Regardless of that sentiment, I’m still proud of our accomplishments. We started transforming society at a young age by spending the Greatest Generation’s money, creating the most prosperous economy in history.

We are more safety conscious than they were. We pioneered seat belts and air bags. In some states, we banned indoor smoking. At the same time, we promoted legalizing weed, reasoning that it is less harmful than alcohol.

We relaxed America’s dress code. Although, we draw the line at wearing jammies to the store. We changed America’s radio station to rock ’n’ roll. Some of us still wait in the car to hear the end of a song We came up with the synthesizer and the incredibly long bass solo. We also invented

the inter net. We promoted entrepreneurship. America has fallen to 15th in the list of happiest ountries but Boomers are still anked in the top 10.

We made America less colordiscriminatory. We fought disrimination against women. We popularized the use of “Ms.” and stopped calling women “ladies.” We eased prejudice against the GBTQIA community

We (temporarily) ended the Cold War and oversaw the end of Apartheid. We believe in political activism. We protested wars, beginning with Viet Nam and continuing to the present day. We invented DNA fingerprinting and other forensic tools to combat crime. There would be no “CSI” shows without us We also watched Columbo solve murders the old-fashioned way.

We (temporarily) increased life expectancy, until the pandemic knocked it back down. We invented the Segway. Some of us can still ride a bike.

But enough about our glorious past. These days we can carry on face-to-face conversations, without glancing down at our phones We call rather than text and use complete sentences in our emails We love volunteering and serving where we’re needed

We begin conversations with quaint ex-

A LOOK BACK IN TIME

Ol’ Blue Eyes at Giannotti’s

Frank Sinatra dropped in with a party of 10 for dinner at Giannotti’s Restaurant on prom night, 1976. Gianotti’s Restaurant, located at 7711 Roosevelt Road, was known for its outstanding Italian cuisine, warm atmosphere and celebrity guests. On this occasion, the Review re ported that Sinatra wasn’t “all that hungry,” yet did a “workmanlike job on the linguine with clam sauce.” The high school prom-goers mobbed the table with Sinatra and comedian Pat Henry and Jack McHugh, owner of the Four Touches Restaurant. Sinatra was genial with the young fans, signing autographs before heading of f to his limousine.

Jill Wagner

Photo from May 5, 1976 Forest Park Re view with Frank Sinatra who had dinner at Giannotti’s Restaurant, the same night many high-schoolers were dining with their prom dates.

pressions like: “I heard on the radio ... I saw in the paper ... In this book I’m reading ...” We still get photographs printed. We look up words in the dictionary.

We know how to read maps, although GPS is destroying that ability. We take longhand notes. When it comes to reading, we prefer printed matter to scanning screens.

We started a jogging fad that continues to grow in popularity. We invented touch football, wiffleball and Ultimate Frisbee. We sparked a short-lived tennis boom until we discovered pickleball. We embraced soccer and are avid fans of women’s basketball. If it wasn’t for us, there’d be no relaxed-fit jeans. There would be no four-dollar cups of bur nt-tasting coffee. We also unfortunately invented fast food, drive-thru windows and diet pop.

We can push a stroller or hang with our grandkids at the park, without gabbing on the phone We don’t text and drive. Some of us still handwrite and mail letters.

We rejected materialism in our youth — with many refusing to sell out to “The Man” … for an entire summer We were the first generation in a century to care about the environment.

We only had 2.1 children per family, so we didn’t start our own Baby Boom. But we made sure that our kids had good self-esteem and a strong sense of entitlement.

Sorry about that last one.

Editor Erika Hobbs

Sta Repor ter Jessica Mordacq Amaris Rodriguez

Digital Manager Stacy Coleman

Digital Media Coordinator Brooke Duncan

Contributing Reporters Tom Holmes, John Rice, Bob Skolnik, Jackie Glosniak, Robert J. Li a

Columnists Alan Brouilette, Jill Wagner, Tom Holmes, John Rice

Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead

Editorial Design Manager Javier Govea

Designers Susan McKelvey, Vanessa Garza

Sales and Marketing Representatives

Lourdes Nicholls, Ben Stumpe

Business & Development Manager Mary Ellen Nelligan

Circulation Manager Jill Wagner

Publisher Dan Haley

Special Projec ts Manager Susan Walker

Board of Directors

Chair Judy Gre n

Treasurer Nile Wendorf

Deb Abrahamson, Gary Collins, Steve Edwards, Darnell Shields, Sheila Solomon, Eric Weinheimer

HOW TO REACH US

ADDRESS 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302 PHONE 708-366-0600 ■ FAX 708-467-9066

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NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING

On Friday, May 24th at 9:00 a.m. a meeting conducted by Brookfield-LaGrange Park School District 95 will be taking place at S.E. Gross Middle School, 3524 Maple Ave. in Brookfield, in the 2nd Floor Conference room. The purpose of this meeting will be to discuss the District’s plans for providing special education services to students (who reside within the boundaries of Brookfield-LaGrange Park School District #95), with disabilities who attend private and home-schools for the 20242025 school year. If you have further questions pertaining to this meeting, please contact Dean Pappas, Director of Student Services, at 708-5888863 or dpappas@district95.org

Published in RB Landmark May 8, 2024

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on age, race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or intention to make any such preferences, limitations or discrimination.

The Illinois Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental or advertising of real estate based on factors in addition to those protected under federal law. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.

Restrictions or prohibitions of pets do not apply to service animals. To complain of discrimination, call HUD toll free at: 1-800-669-9777.

GROWING COMMUNITY MEDIA

INVITATION TO BID LANDSCAPING

The Board of Education of Oak Park Elementary School District #97 will receive sealed LANDSCAPING SERVICES bids at the Administrative Office located at 260 West Madison Street – Oak Park, IL, (60302), until 3:00 p.m. on Friday May 24, 2024. A MANDATORY PRE-BID MEETING WILL BE HELD ON FRIDAY, May 17, 2024 AT 1:00 P.M. AT THE DISTRICT OFFICE, 260 Madison Street, Oak Park, IL 60302

Bids mailed or delivered shall be marked to the attention of:

Mr. John Pahlman Oak Park School District 97 260 Madison Street Oak Park, Illinois 60302

The front of the envelope should be clearly marked “LANDSCAPE SERVICES”. Additional information may be obtained by contacting Mr. John Pahlman at (708) 524-3125 or jpahlman@op97.org

Bid Due Date: Friday, May 24, 2024. at 3:00 P.M.

Only those bids complying with the provision and specification of the bid will be considered. The Board of Education reserves the right to waive any informalities, qualification or irregularities and/or reject any or all bids, when in its opinion, such action will serve the best interest of the Board of Education of Oak Park Elementary School District 97.

Published in Wednesday Journal May 8, 2024

PUBLIC NOTICES

RIVERSIDE BROOKFIELD TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT 208

TIMELY AND MEANINGFUL CONSULTATION FOR PARENTS AND ADMINISTRATORS OF PRIVATE AND HOME SCHOOLED CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES

In accordance with the requirements of Section 612(a) (10) of the Federal Individuals with Disabilities Improvement Act of 2004 (“IDEA 2004”), Riverside Brookfield High School will conduct a Timely and Meaningful Consultation on Friday, May 17, 2024, at 10:00 AM at Riverside Brookfield High School, 160 Ridgewood Road, Riverside, Il 60546 The purpose of this meeting is to discuss how students with disabilities, who attend private schools or are homeschooled within the district boundaries, will be served by District 208 during the 2024-25 school year

Parents and private school administrators who would like to attend should contact Kevin Baldus, Director of Special Education, at baldusk@rbhs208.net

Published in RB Landmark May 8, 15, 2024

PUBLIC NOTICE STATE OF ILLINOIS VILLAGE OF BROOKFIELD

Notice of Public Hearing Village of Brookfield Planning and Zoning Commission May 23, 2024, at 7:00 PM NOTICE is hereby given that a public hearing will be held by the Planning and Zoning Commission of the Village of Brookfield on Thursday, May 23, 2024, at 7:00 PM in the Edward Barcal Hall located at 8820 Brookfield Avenue, Brookfield, Illinois to consider an application from Li Dong for a Special Use Permit to operate a Massage Establishment use at 9211 Broadway Avenue (PIN 15-34-307026-1003).

Legal Description: UNIT NUMBER 9211 IN 9207-9213 BROADWAY CONDOMINIUM, AS DELINEATED ON A PLAT OF SURVEY OF THIS FOLLOWING DESCRIBED TRACT OF LAND: LOT B IN MRAZ SUBDIVISION OF LOTS 1 AND 2 IN BLOCK 1 IN PORTIA MANOR, BEING FREDERICK H. BARTLETT’S SUBDIVISION IN THE SOUTHWEST ¼ OF SECTION 34, TOWNSHIP 39 NORTH, RANGE 12, EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN IN COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. WHICH PLAT OF SURVEY IS ATTACHED AS EXHIBIT “A” TO THE DECLARATION OF CONDOMINIUM RECORDED MARCH 17, 2009 AS DOCUMENT NUMBER 0907645123; TOGETHER WITH ITS UNDIVIDED PERCENTAFE INTEREST IN THE COMMON ELEMENTS.

The public is invited to attend the public hearing and present oral and/ or written comments. Written comments may be provided prior to 4:00 PM on the day of the meeting to: Village of Brookfield, Planning and Zoning Commission c/o Kate Portillo, 8820 Brookfield Avenue, Brookfield, IL 60513 and at kportillo@brookfieldil.gov. Oral or written public testimony may be given during the public hearing.

The application may be viewed at the Village of Brookfield Village Hall during normal business hours. Please reference PZC Case 24-09. Public hearings may be continued from time to time without further notice, except as otherwise required under the Illinois Open Meetings Act.

Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodation in order to participate in any meeting may contact the Village of Brookfield at (708) 4857344 prior to the meeting. Wheelchair access is available through the front (south) entrance of Village Hall.

By the Order of Chuck Grund, Planning and Zoning Commission Chairman.

Published in RB Landmark May 8, 2024

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Between now and the end of June, we’re working to raise $130,000 to support our nonprofit newsroom. With your active help, when we reach that goal, we’ll have completed our most successful year yet in total dollars raised and, happily, in the total number of readers supporting our journalism.

Every dollar from our readers goes into the newsroom to pay our hard-working reporters and designers to tell stories that unite and empower our communities. Each story we share serves as a building block in the foundation of stronger, more connected neighborhoods across the Greater West Side – from Austin and Garfield Park, into Oak Park, Forest Park and Riverside and Brookfield.

These are the communities we cover with our four publications. Austin Weekly News. Wednesday Journal. Forest Park Review. Riverside-Brookfield Landmark.

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AT HOMEONTHE GREATERWESTSIDE

Two Inherent homes on the 600 block of North Ridgeway Avenue are available for first-time buyers under the city’s Building Better Neighborhood and Affordable Homes program.

In West Humboldt Park, vacant lots are turned into affordable homes

The Better Neighborhoods and Affordable Homes program offers qualified buyers up to $100K in down payment assistance

By DELANEY NELSON and FRANCIA GARCIA HERNANDEZ Contributing Reporters

Two brand-new modern single-family homes sit across the street from a West Humboldt Park elementary school and health center at the intersection of North Ridgeway Avenue and West Huron Street. They boast new windows, a beautiful facade, new fences and landscaping, a sign of the high-quality modern finishes and amenities found inside.

See VACANT LOTS on page B2

and economic

FRANCIA GARCIA HERNANDEZ

(Above) Inherent L3C CEO im Swanson (middle) poses with Heather Hayes, director of construction operations and Sonia Del Real, vice president of sales

development on April 30, 2024. (Left) The kitchen at one of the West Humboldt Park homes.

VACANT LOTS

Continued from page B1

The homes have sustainable and smart home features, boasting energy-efficient construction, all-electric connections and high-end Google smart home devices such as thermostats, security cameras, WiFi routers, keyless locks and speakers. They are even ready to install an electric vehicle charging station if their future homeowner chooses to.

These West Side homes stand as a beacon of opportunity – proof of what can be built on thousands of vacant lots citywide.

“We are not just building homes, we’re really focused on making sure that we’re building home ownership,” said Sonia Del Real, vice president of sales and economic development for Inherent LC3, the West Side company that manufactured and installed these modular homes.

About a mile from the homes, a crew of local construction workers assembles the homes that will soon be installed on the West Side and other

neighborhoods in the city. Rather than building on-site, Inherent LC3 assembles the modules of the home at their West Side warehouse, a process that takes 10 to 12 weeks. Once the two modules are finished – one for each story –they are transported to the parcel where they are set and finished.

“A neighbor could leave for work at eight o’clock in the morning, they come back and there’s a whole house,” Del Real said.

In total, a new home could be ready in 15 weeks. Unlike traditional construction, construction crews are not restrained by weather, allowing for efficiencies and faster construction times, Del Real said.

Inherent LC3 will bring 24 properties to the neighborhood, turning vacant lots into affordable homes. The lots were owned by the city and transferred under a land redevelopment agreement that requires new construction on these lots to remain affordable.

The company has also built homes for lots owned by the Cook County Land Bank and created a micro-home prototype last year that was proposed as a solution to temporarily house migrants.

Two West Humboldt Park homes have been sold and two are currently on the market, Del Real said. More houses are underway and will be installed on North Lawndale Avenue in the proj-

CREDIT PROVIDED, INHERENT L3C

Vacant lots in West Humboldt Park will become new single-family homes for first-time homebuyers.

CREDIT: PROVIDED, INHERENT L3C

Homebuyers can select from several facade designs with different porch, fence, window and landscape options.

How a $418 million lawsuit settlement could affect West Side homeowners and Realtors®

By DELANEY NELSON Special Projects Reporter

Apowerful group of real estate agents agreed to settle a lawsuit that alleged the group’s commission rules forced homeowners to pay higher fees when they sold their houses.

A federal judge granted preliminary approval to the settlement terms in March, and as part of it, the group, National Association of Realtors®, is expected to pay $418 million in damages.

Key changes to the process of buying or selling a home will be made, as well, to account for more transparency and encourage market competition.

Before the settlement, broker commissions were typically paid by sellers. The seller’s agent usually agreed to split the commission with the buyer’s agent. These commissions typically range from 5% to 6% of the total cost of the home — an industry-wide standard that is much higher than in other countries.

But buyers are not always made aware of the full cost of purchasing a home, particularly when it comes to the broker’s commission. The same goes for sellers. Homeowners sued the NAR, alleging the organization fixed broker commissions at high rates and discouraged clients from seeking better terms, which cost them more money

The lawsuit also argued that the trade group

violated antitrust laws by mandating that the seller’s agent make an offer of payment to the buyer’s agent. As it stands, the settlement will end the practice of sharing commission rates on the Multiple Listing Service (which is only accessible to agents) and theoretically make the process of negotiating compensation more transparent.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR WEST SIDE BUYERS, SELLERS

Beginning in late July 2024, agents will require prospective homebuyers to sign an agreement that discloses their broker’s commission — how much the buyer will compensate their agent if they go through with the purchase — and who will pay it. A contract must be signed before a Realtor® can represent a client and show them properties.

Agreeing on the terms before viewing properties provides clarity for buyers on what services they can expect from their agent, experts say. It also guarantees buyer’s agents will get paid for their work.

For some, the process won’t change much. Commissions were technically always negotiable, even before the proposed settlement. Many Realtors® already used buyer-agent agreements, although they were not previously required in Illinois.

There is now no option for agents to show a

ect’s first phase, with more homes coming to West Huron Street and West Ohio Street in the future.

Once completed, the homes will be available to first-time homebuyers who qualify for financial assistance from the city’s Better Neighborhoods and Affordable Houses program.

This city program aims to promote affordable housing by pro-

house to a buyer without written agreement, said Michelle Flores, a Chicago-area Realtor® who represents both buyers and sellers.

The agreement will state how much the buyer is willing to pay the agent to represent them, with the understanding that when they want to view house, the agent will first to negotiate for the agreedupon compensation on the listing side, Flores said.

“But in the event that don’t receive compensation from the listing side, the buyer is responsible to pay the buyer’s agent,” she said.

On the seller’s side, the settlement bans advertising a commission for the buyer’s agent on the MLS, the online listing platform that only real estate agents have access to.

“Instead of me offering compensation on the MLS to the buyer’s agent, the buyer’s agent has to come to me and say, ‘Hey, Michelle, I see a listing. I have a potential buyer, I would like to show that listing to the potential buyer. Are you offering compensation?’” Flores said.

She would respond with the compensation for that particular unit, she said. Then, the buyer’s

viding up to $100,000 in a forgivable grant for downpayment assistance, closing costs and appraisal gaps to eligible first-time homebuyers. The grant amount varies based on buyers’ income and neighborhood residency

Homebuyers complete the traditional homebuying process and an additional process to obtain the BNAH grant. The program requires buyers to live on-site for 10 years after purchasing. It is available for single-family homes and multifamily buildings with up to four units. Yet, all properties must have been developed on citys

agent will say, “Great, that works for us!” Or say no, because the compensation is outside the amount they agreed upon with their buyer client.

The main widespread effect of the settlement will likely be lower commission fees for sellers, as agents try to compete for business.

Flores said one potential downside of the settlement is that it could put lower-income buyers or those who don’t have a lot of cash at a disadvantage.

“If sellers are adamant about not paying a buyer agent commission, then who’s going to pay the buyer agent?” she said. “Buyers who don’t have the funds will fall in that category of not being able to buy — we already know which demographic is going to suffer.”

Flores also said this might make the home-buying process take longer or seem more daunting to prospective homeowners.

Realtors® say the details of how the settlement will play out haven’t been determined. And although a federal judge granted preliminary approval to the settlement in March, the final approval hearing won’t be until late November of this year. It is widely expected to be approved.

In addition to the city’s homebuying assistance program, Inherent LC3 provides homeownership assistance services for five years, including quarterly maintenance and energy efficiency checks.

“We feel that the first five years or we know that the first five years are critical in homeownership or for home or sustainable homeownership, “ Del Real said.

Through a partnership with Northwestern Mutual, the company offers death and disability insurance subject to underwriting at no additional cost. For the first five years, buyers also obtain free services from security company ADT

Homebuyers can select between a two-bathroom, three-bedroom home without a basement and a one-bathroom, two-bedroom home with a basement developed by Inherent LC3. The homes have a kitchen, on-site laundry, a living space and an enclosed backyard.

When possible, buyers can select from several facade design options and customize some of the kitchen, bathroom and flooring finishes. The hallways are wide enough for wheelchair access, increasing accessibility for aging families.

“We don’t want to call these starter homes. We want people to stay in them for a long time and pass them on, that’s how you build generational wealth,” Del Real said.

Michelle Flores National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals

FRANCIA GARCIA HERNANDEZ

Soon-to-be West Humboldt Park homes are built by local workers, including West and South Side residents, women and returning citizens at Inherent’s West Side production facility

How community land trusts combat rising home prices and fighting displacement

By DELANEY NELSON Special Projects Reporter

Amid rising costs and gentrification, some organizations have found a creative way to obtain homeownership and to combat the displacement of longtime residents: community land trusts.

The goal of this shared ownership model is to provide affordable home prices, and in the process, keep people in their own neighborhoods.

A land trust, typically a nonprofit organization, buys the land on which a house sits, then sells the house at a discounted price to a community member while retaining ownership of the land underneath the home. In exchange, the buyer will sell the home at a discounted, affordable price if they decide to leave.

“It’s essentially a vehicle to increase community control over what happens in the real estate market, and also to preserve the affordability of housing in a rapidly gentrifying market context,” said Geoff Smith, executive director of the Institute for Housing Studies at DePaul University.

Black southern farmers are credited with starting the first community land trust, or CLT, in the United States during the Civil Rights Movement. Now, there are about 230 community land trusts throughout the country.

Research from the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy showed that land trust properties had substantially lower foreclosure rates in the aftermath of the 2008 housing crisis than conventional properties. This allowed community members to ride out price increases in their neighborhoods.

Lower-earning homeowners were disproportionately hit by subprime lending and the high unemployment rates that followed the housing crisis. Because CLTs kept homeowners from obtaining subprime loans in the first place, they were buffered from the impact of the economic recession, according to Lincoln Institute researchers.

Julio Pensamiento, Here to Stay Community Land Trust board member, said land trusts are an opportunity to give homes back to the community, rather than having them fall into the hands of predatory developers.

“It’s essentially to provide somebody a second chance, instead of the alternative, which would be to sell your home, foreclose, whatever

it may be, and then move elsewhere,” he said. “We want to be able to keep those legacy families here operating in our neighborhoods.”

WHERE TO FIND THEM IN CHICAGO

Here to Stay is one of three CLTs operating in the Chicagoland area. The nonprofit, which serves low- to moderate-income households across Hermosa, Avondale, Logan Square and Humboldt Park, has acquired seven homes since incorporating in 2019. It has sold three homes, with two more sales expected within the next month, said program director Kristin Horne.

The Northwest Side land trust was born in response to community members’ need for affordable housing. It can curb displacement, allowing residents with varying income levels to live in neighborhoods such as Logan Square and Hermosa.

“(People) were afraid of being displaced, pushed out of the community entirely. They wanted homeownership so that they were able to have permanent roots in the community,” Horne said. “We know we can’t stop gentrifica-

tion outright — but we can at least slow it down.”

The goal is long-term affordability, made possible through a 99-year ground lease. During that period, the organization retains the rights to the land and controls its use. Major renovations that would change the home’s value must be approved by the trust. That keeps properties from being flipped for profit, Pensamiento said. Here to Stay also requires the homeowner to live on the property

Wealth accumulation — a main benefit of homeownership — looks different in a community land trust. Depending on the agreed-upon terms and resale formula, a homeowner will collect a share of the home value appreciation rather than its entirety. They will also earn home equity, although at a limited rate compared to the amount generated by conventional property value appreciation.

CLTs have the potential to promote sustainable homeownership and community stability by lowering housing costs and providing housing support. But the model may not fit all neighborhoods, said Smith, who is also a member of the Illinois Community Land Trust Task Force.

In a neighborhood like Logan Square, which

has become highly inaccessible to people with modest incomes, the community land trust creates an opportunity for affordable homeownership — and an amount of wealth accumulation.

Questions remain about whether the CLT model provides the same benefits in neighborhoods like Austin that are relatively more affordable and have more available housing for sale.

“It’s not a one-shoe-fits-all. We’re not saying there should be a million land trusts and this is the only way to promote affordability,” Pensamiento said.

Aside from promoting affordability, community land trusts can be a vehicle for long-term residents to stay in the neighborhoods they have called home, preserving some of the neighborhood’s identity and culture, Pensamiento said.

“Being able to push folks out right and uproot families and uproot cultures is something that we want to put a stop to.”

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