The Home Front

New bike lane installed on Archer avenue in front of The Pants Box (above) By Don DeBat Chicago was once known as a “city that works.” It was a transportation-oriented hub, but now is run by clout-happy, Democratic-Socialist politicians who appear to be kissing the bicycle lobby’s sprocket. City Hall has erected concrete barriers and roadway-blockers on key arterial streets all over the city’s transportation grid in favor of privileged bike paths. The bike-crazy trend really

By Don DeBat Mayor Johnson is preparing a sweeping “Protecting Renters Ordinance” for Chicago. But while City Hall frames it as a vital tenant defense, local landlords warn new fees and a mandatory registry will drive up monthly rents by at least $100. Half of Chicago’s residents – some 600,000 people – are apartment renters, so with a slim chance of re-election in 2027, Mayor Brandon Johnson is digging for votes. Mayor Johnson, an avowed Democratic Socialist, plans to introd

With a glowing endorsement by the Chicago Tribune, Fritz Kaegi is leaning on his record of data-driven reform as he fights a primary challenge from Patrick Hynes, a candidate Kaegi claims is ‘bankrolled’ by tax appeal attorneys. By Don DeBat Ethics and honesty – rare moral principles in politics – appear to be winning for Fritz Kaegi in his effort to get reelected as Cook County Assessor. Despite generally underhanded campaigning tactics, aggressive TV-ad rhetoric, and overal

(Above) The former Wayman African Methodist Episcopal Church. Photo: @properties Christie’s International Real Estate / Compass. BY DON DEBAT In the heart of what was once the nation’s most infamous public housing project, a 137-year-old church is being gutted for $1.4 million condos – anchoring a luxury transition that developers are rebranding as ‘Gold Coast West.’ The Near North Side neighborhood once infamously known as the Cabrini-Green public housing “ghetto” is at a cr

Photo obtained from Lincoln Park Builders of Chicago. Over 1,000 builders and real estate professionals gathered at the Lincoln Park Builders of Chicago’s Real Estate Forum to discuss civic priorities, market conditions, and future profits. By Don DeBat Looking to 2026 and beyond, Chicago builders likely will have to juggle civic priorities, analyze market conditions, and gaze into the crystal ball on the direction of mortgage interest rates in order to bank future profits. T

Mayor Johnson’s multi-million-dollar bike lane plan is creating a rift in Chicago, as motorists struggle with increased traffic and lost...

(Above) Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi (left in photo) and Lyons Township Assessor Patrick Hynes. Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi is...

Home loan interest rates have dipped for five straight weeks, with the average 30-year fixed mortgage now at 6.67 percent. This decline...

(Above) Dining/Great Room of an Airbnb in Old Town. Interior photos by Andrew Charles Miller. (Click on images to view larger versions.)...