One universal truth on which we all can agree is that kids like to play. They love little more than getting together and having a bang-up good time. And in almost any cooperative, condominium or homeowners’ association, there is likely to b…
Q. We have a serious problem in our co-op building. No. 1, for as long as I can remember, there have been no annual meetings for years. Secondly, there have been no elections and the same people are entrenched on the board of directors an…
Q. After this winter, a concrete walkway in our condo property was completely ruined. A few unit owners say there was evidence of rock salt being used to manage the walkways, rather than the usual calcium chloride. It’s not going to be ch…
Spring cleaning isn't just for unit owners. As we move out of the winter months, now is a great time to make sure your property is “spic and span” for the rest of 2016. The Chicagoland Cooperator recently spoke with property managers Bill W…
In this challenging economy, many co-op and condo buildings are struggling to pay their bills while planning for future needs. Still, most building boards and HOAs are loathe to raise maintenance fees or levy special assessments on their re…
When most people think of landscaping, they think of shrubs, trees, meticulously laid-out and maintained flowerbeds, and artful plantings scattered around a building or development. However, landscaping doesn’t need to end with the things t…
It’s no secret that residents in co-ops or condos can be a fickle bunch, and many times decide to undertake a repair or remodeling project themselves, without going through the proper channels. Maybe it’s a new owner who wants to make maj…
Remember the 2004 classic psychological drama Wicker Park, starring a transcendent Josh Hartnett, Diane Kruger, Rose Byrne and that delightfully impish scamp we all know and love to call Matthew Lillard? But get this: Wicker Park is also …
Q. I am a shareholder of a co-op apartment building. I have a mold problem which stems from water damage coming through the outside bricks. I had a mold assessment company take air and material samples. It was determined that there is ext…
Q. I am curious about the rules in Illinois for flipping condo properties that are in default. Is it ethical that a real estate lawyer that represents a condominium association purchase a foreclosed unit and flip it? …