Tag Archives: Chicago

Chicago condo owner’s long-running Fair Housing case settled

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Gavel and legal books lawsuit court

By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities Last week Michael Novak, a plaintiff in a fair housing lawsuit against State Parkway Condominium Association and others, distributed a news release announcing an out-of-court settlement of his 13-year-long dispute over his family’s service animal. The Novaks, who are both deaf, live with their daughter and a service dog named Hera. Hera alerts the Novaks to doorbells, ringing telephones, alarms, and other situations that hearing people take for granted. Continue ReadingChicago condo owner’s long-running Fair Housing case settled→

Chicago Neighborhood Association fights against garage for disabled teen

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A Chicago neighborhood association wants Planning and Zoning board to deny a family’s request to build a garage to accommodate their daughter’s wheelchair. By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities On IAC, I write a lot of posts about mandatory homeowners and condominium associations that choose to deny disability accommodations. For some reason, some board members of HOAs resent the fact that residents with disabilities need reserved parking spaces, specially equipped vehicles in their driveways, wheelchair Continue ReadingChicago Neighborhood Association fights against garage for disabled teen→

River City Condo deconversion breeds lawsuits

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Gavel and legal books lawsuit court

By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities A few weeks ago, a group of unit owners at River City Condominium in Chicago filed a lawsuit intended to halt the $90.5 million sale and condo deconversion of their iconic vintage Chicago riverfront building. River City Condominium Association includes 449 residential units. Since 2016, Marc Realty along with its equity partner, Wolcott Group, has been interested in purchasing River City for the purposes of a condo-to-apartment deconversion. After Continue ReadingRiver City Condo deconversion breeds lawsuits→

Chicago condo-to-apartment deconversion trend divides co-owners

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By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities The more I learn about condo-to-apartment deconversions, also known as (forced) condo terminations, the more I become convinced that no one ever actually “owns” property as a member of a condominium association. Condominium ownership differs from ownership in a homeowners’ or property owners’ association in several ways. And the most important difference comes down to land ownership. In a single family home planned community, while the HOA is a separate Continue ReadingChicago condo-to-apartment deconversion trend divides co-owners→