November 2014 Vol. 34 No. 1 Visit Beverly Hills/Morgan Park at www.bapa.org Happy Thanksgiving Published by BEVERLY AREA PLANNING ASSOCIATION Local, and State Agencies Work to Address Deed Issues It has been nearly a year since the BAPA staff and board members adopted new Strate- gic Initiatives that guide our work on behalf of the community. Community stakeholders involved in developing our new course of action resoundingly said that they would like us to continue to act as an advocate on behalf of Beverly Hills/Morgan Park residents concerning crime and safety issues, as well as to promote our desirable housing and community as a choice for new homeowners. As part of our commitment to make ours an even safer neighborhood, BAPA staff continues to promote public safety in Beverly Hills/Morgan Park and works diligently to prevent foreclosures and address problem houses. In late July a neighbor who has received BAPA’s assistance in addressing problems in the past contacted us with a concern about potential squatters living in a nearby home. Shortly after speaking with the neighbor, BAPA staff conducted a thorough public re- cords search to find the rightful owners of the property. In the course of that search, BAPA staff learned that a potentially fraudulent Adverse Possession document had been filed against that address with the Cook County Recorder of Deeds. We also discovered that a number of other vacant homes in our community had similar documents filed against them. Squatters are present in some of the homes and a number of the properties are in varying stages of the civil eviction process that has been initiated by the property owners. Some of the people living in the homes may also be unwitting victims who are renting from people claiming to own the property. Beverly Hills/Morgan Park is a safe, close knit community and BAPA, 19th Ward Ald. Matt O’Shea and the 22nd District Police all work together to keep it that way. All three agencies have partnered to address the alleged deed fraud and squatting issue, and each agency has contributed resources and expertise to tackle the problem from different angles. Neighbors also have been invaluable in providing detailed information about the squatters that has been a tremendous help to address the problem. A Complicated Issue The situation is complicated to address and any remedies to the problem will unfor- tunately take time. The only way for the squatters to be removed from the homes is for the property owner to initiate eviction proceedings in civil court and/or for the property owner or bank officer to sign criminal complaints and request arrest by the police. Some of these vacant properties are owned by banks, HUD, Fannie Mae and investors requir- ing that we work with these agencies to seek remedies. This problem has occurred in part because the State of Illinois has an open filing system with regard to property recordings and by law, county recorders here are not allowed to deny any filing submitted to them. A new State law may be required to allow county recorders to deny a filing. According to Karen Yarborough, the Cook County Recorder of Deeds, property and This work by Martin Sitta is part of the 38th Annual BAC Art Competition exhibit at the Beverly Arts Center. recording fraud is one of the fastest growing white collar crimes in the country. Deed The opening reception and awards are Nov. 7. fraud is also occurring in other Chicago communities and suburbs. Her office has a fraud unit dedicated to investigating potential deed fraud and working with law enforcement to stop the problem. Yarborough also has advocated for new laws to be passed that give BAC Art Competition law enforcement more tools to prevent fraudulent deed filing at the front end. New Laws Will Provide Help Three laws passed recently and signed into law by Gov. Pat Quinn to address fraudu- Showcases Chicago Talent lent deed filings in the state of Illinois include: The 38th Annual BAC Art Competition Jurors for the 2014 BAC Art Competition 55 ILCS 5/3-5010.5 empowers county recorders to help property owners fight property exhibition will open Fri., Nov. 7, 6 p.m. are Edra Soto and Alberto Aguliar. Soto is fraud. At a property owners’ request any Recorder of Deeds in the state has the right to with a reception and awards presentation an Instructor of Contemporary Practices review deeds and instruments and refer any of them that they believe to be fraudulent at the Beverly Arts Center east gallery, at the Art Institute of Chicago where th to an administrative law judge for review. If the judge deems that fraud exists, actions 2407 W. 111 St. The exhibit runs until she earned her BFA and MFA. She and can be taken by the Recorder to correct the deed without requiring the property owner Jan. 4, 2015. her husband, Dan Sullivan, designed to file actions in Chancery Court. This law helps the property owner to remove “clouds In 1976, real estate developer Arthur and currently run operations of The from the title” of their property with less expense and in less time than would normally Rubloff founded an Art Competition in occur in Court. honor of Arthur and Alice Baer, Beverly Franklin, an artist-run project space 720ILCS 5/32-13 raises the criminal penalty for knowingly filing false claims of inter- Hills/Morgan Park residents who were selected as one of Newcity’s Top 5 est or attempting to cloud a property title. The new law makes it a Class A misdemeanor pivotal in the creation of the Beverly Arts New Art Galleries in 2012 and 2013. CONTINUED ON PAGE 22 Center just 9 years prior. With the goal of Aguilar earned his BFA and MFA from featuring Chicago area emerging and es- the Art Institute of Chicago. He currently tablished fine art talent, the competition teaches at Harold Washington College Events Link Experts to Business Owners invites artists from within 100 miles of where he coordinates the Pedestrian downtown Chicago to submit their work Project, an initiative dedicated to making QuickBooks is Topic for W. 103rd St. Registration and network- for the juried competition. contemporary art practice more accessible Business Breakfast ing begin at 7:30 a.m. in the Butler Re- Over the years, the Competition has Monica McCue of Desmond & Ahern ception Room, Warde Academic Center, awarded more than $190,000 to artists to students. Aguilar was recently selected Ltd. will present a program on optimiz- followed by breakfast and the program at for Best in Show and several other cat- as one of two inaugural residents for the ing QuickBooks to manage your busi- 8 a.m. egories, and continues to offer Chicago University of Chicago’s Arts and Public ness effectively at the Business Break- Legislators participating in the event in- area artists recognition and exposure. Life Initiative, a residency program that fast, Wed., Nov. 5, 8:30 a.m., BAPA clude Sen. Bill Cunningham, Rep. Kelly Sponsors have changed through the emphasizes collaborative projects. Community Room, 11109 S. Longwood Burke, Commissioner John Daley, Ald. years, but their generosity has remained Most of the artwork in the BAC Art Dr. Business Breakfasts are co-sponsored Matt O’Shea, Oak Lawn Mayor Sandra constant, and funding for the prizes over Competition exhibition will be for sale, by Beverly Area Planning Association, Bury and Blue Island Mayor Domingo the past few years has been graciously with a portion of the proceeds going to Morgan Park/Beverly Hills Business As- Vargas. donated by Beverly Bank and Trust. support fine arts programming at the sociation, 95th Street Business Associa- Breakfast with your Legislators is spon- “We are once again thrilled with the Beverly Arts Center. tion and Mount Greenwood Community sored by AT&T, hosted by Saint Xavier high quality of the work submitted to the Two other exhibits will also open at and Business Association. Admission is University, and co-sponsored by Beverly show,” said BAC Gallery Curator Carla the BAC on Nov. 7. For the Brown Kids $10 or free for members of any of the Area Planning Association and the Oak Winterbottom. “We had 147 entries from features 30 Chicago area artists inter- sponsoring organizations. Space is lim- Lawn, Evergreen Park and Blue Island established professionals and emerging preting Rodrigo Sanchez-Chavarria’s ited. For reservations or information, call Chambers of Commerce. General admis- talent, and selected 38 pieces from 29 poem “For Brown Boys” and depicting BAPA, 773-233-3100. sion, which includes breakfast, is $20 per artists. It is an impressive group, and our issues that communities of color face. Breakfast With Your Legislators person and $15 for members of the host- jurors will have their work cut out for The Lost Ones features photography by Local business professionals are invited ing agencies. Pre-registration and pre- them. We are doubly fortunate to have April Leigh-Williams. These exhibits run to meet and mingle with Chicagoland payment are required by Nov. 10. Infor- these esteemed artists as our judges for through Nov. 30. BAC exhibits are free elected officials at the 9th Annual Break- mation and registration, Marcia Walsh, the Art Competition. We invite everyone and open to the public. For more infor- fast with Your Legislators Thurs., Nov. Beverly Area Planning Association, 773- to come out and be a part of this exciting mation, call 773-445-3838 or visit www. 13, 2014, Saint Xavier University, 3700 233-3100 or [email protected]. and respected BAC tradition.” beverlyartcenter.org November 2014 Page 2 Explore the life you love.