* Alderman Unleashes Eminent Domain on Developer Pal

Alderman Moore is seeking to use eminent domain against Tezakis.
By Forum 49 HUGH

The property is the two lots on the east side of Ashland, from Howard on the north to Rogers on the south, known informally locally as the "Lerner" property.

1. 7531-33 N Ashland, PIN 11-30-405-001, vacant lot
2. 7519 N Ashland, PIN 11-30-405-009, the old "Lerner News" building

The current owners are Burrel Restaurant Corporation, an Illinois corporation controlled by John Terzakis. The registered agent for Burrel is Roxanne Gardner.

Terzakis is no stranger to Rogers Park.

1. Terzakis and Gardner are partners with DevCorp North in Gateway Mall.

2. Terzakis is a partner with Jay Johnson and the Rogers Park Community Council in the Morse Senior Center.

3. Terzakis and Garder partnered with Rudy Mulder in Urban Investment Trust Inc.

Single Site Solutions Corporation

Terzakis aggressively acquired properties in the TIF as the TIF project gained momentum.

Terzakis acquired the vacant lot on the southeast corner of Ashland and Howard, AND the Wisdom Bridge Theater Building, 1561 W Howard, PIN 11-29-300-001, on 12/30/1994 for $450K (see Cook County Recorder of Deeds document number 95010746).

Terzakis acquired the Lerner building on the northeast corner of Ashland and Rogers from Lerner on 9/28/1998 for $325K. (see CCRD doc # 99095824).

The Howard TIF was drawn so that Terzakis' two properties on N Ashland (but NOT the Wisdom Bridge Theater Building around the corner on Howard) were included in the Howard TIF.

Moore held neighborhood meetings and supported a zoning change and a "planned development" (PD) for Terzakis' two Ashland properties. The PD was approved by the City Council on March 9, 2005. Here are links to the plans, spread out over two PDF files:

1. the last two pages of the first and
2. continued here.

Terzakis made the "Wisdom Bridge Arts Project" the trustee for the Wisdom Bridge Theater Building on 10/17/2005.

Just weeks later, in the midst of the controversy surrounding the tear-down of the Adelphi Theater on Clark, Moore quietly let it be known that the Wisdom Bridge Theater Building would also be torn down.

Jargowood Block Club Meeting
11.01.2005

Alderman's Report
– Continuing Issues: Kevin Cosgrove represented Alderman Joe Moore's office.

These updates were provided:

Wisdom Bridge Theatre – Control of the site has been transferred to the “Friends of Wisdom Bridge” group. [I’m not sure if I have that name right]. The group is now requesting bids for demolition as the building is too far gone for conversion into an accessible facility. The group is planning to look for redevelopment proposals; the proposals could include space for a theatre company in the development or sale of the property to enable a move to a new location.

Less than a year after Moore arranged a zoning change and a planned development for Terzakis, Moore was supporting eminent domain proceedings against Terzakis.

This will allow TIF money to be used to pay Terzakis for the property.

Here is a link to the Community Development Commission Agenda:

CDC February 2006 Tentative Agenda

Excerpt:

IV. NEW BUSINESS

J. HOWARD/PAULINA TIF REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT AREA (WARD 49)

Request authority to acquire the property located at 7519-33 N. Ashland Avenue in the Howard/Paulina Tax Increment Financing Redevelopment Project Area.

CDC Resolutiion 06-CDC-21: Authorization for the Acquisition of Property Located in the Howard/Paulina Tax Increment Financing Redevelopment Project Area

This matter was brought before the CDC by the Department of Planning and Development of the City of Chicago:

"The Department of Planning and Development recommends that the CDC approve the authority to acquire the property..."

Here is a list of the Exhibits attached to the proposal brought before the CDC by DPD;

Exhibits

Redevelopment Area Map
Neighborhood Map or Aerial
Tax Plat
Dept. of Environment Screening Report
Parcel Profile Table
Sample Acquisition Notice
Community Letters of Support
Alderman's Letter of Support

DevCorp North: Taxpayer-funded Unregistered Lobbyist

Here is an excerpt from the Sample Acquisition Notice:

"The Department of Planning and Development (DPD) is seeking the authority to acquire the above referenced properties..."

Here is an excerpt from Moore's letter of support:

"I am writing in support of the Department of Planning and Development's effort to receive acquisition authority for 7519 and 7531-33 N Ashland ..."

One and only one letter is included in the "Community Letters (sic) of Support" section of DPD's proposal to the CDC: from DevCorp North. Here is an excerpt from DevCorp North's letter of support:

"DevCorp North, the business, community and economic development corporation in Rogers Park, is writing to indicate our support of the city's decision to place the Howard/Ashland property on the city's acquistion list ... "

DevCorp North speaks for us. DevCorp North fails to disclose to the Commissioners that they are a delegate agency of the Department of Planning and Development. DevCorp North is almost entirely funded from contracts let through DPD. DevCorp North is a paid agent of DPD, testifying in favor of a DPD proposal, in front of a city Commission, while pretending to be a community group.

Molly Ivins calls this phenomenon "astroturf:" fake grassroots organizations.