Condominiums represent an important part of many Chicago neighborhood housing markets, yet have historically been regulated with a loose patchwork of state and local laws. That will change, given recent developments in local, state, and federal policy making arenas.

Lakeside is currently tracking a number of bills in the Illinois legislature concerning reforms to the Illinois Condominium Property Act, including a bill that would allow courts to appoint receivers for "distressed condominiums". The bill ostensibly deals with condos developed fraudulently and defines a number of conditions, under which a property would qualify as distressed. Once under the care of a receiver, the condominium property could be managed, rehabbed, or dissolved and sold.

Partners for Rogers Park's Housing Committee is approaching the final week of its Landlord Seminar Series, which have been a huge hit.  Together with the Community Investment Corporation, a total of 5 workshops were organized by the Committee, under the direction of Lakeside's rental housing advocate, Bibian Guevara.

"Lakeside believes that good rental housing depends on well-informed landlords, which is why we organized these workshops," says Bibian Guevara. "We're especially pleased to help some of the smaller landlords in the neighborhood, who play a vital role in providing rental housing to low-income people." In the Chicago region, 75% of the affordable rental housing is provided by private landlords who receive no subsidies. These landlords may be especially sensitive to increases in operating costs, high turnover, or excessive repair costs.

Lakeside has joined with the Housing Committee of Partners for Rogers Park, a coalition of community organizations and residents, to organize a series of FREE workshops for landlords on Thursday evenings in April. Each workshop will take place at the Rogers Park Chicago Public Library, 6907 N. Clark Street. The workshops are being led by Taft West, Director of Property Management Education at Community Investment Corporation, the Chicago region's premier nonprofit mulitfamily lender and technical assistance provider to landlords and property managers. Housing Committee members will also participate.