Looks like I am vamoosing when I finish school. Hello Omaha!As Rents Skyrocket in Logan Square, Landlord M. Fishman Defends Steep HikesLOGAN SQUARE ” Estefania Salgado and her boyfriend have lived in their one-bedroom apartment for the last five years, paying around $800 a month, but might soon have to pay nearly double that to stay in their home.Last month she received a 30-day notice to sign a lease for $1,450 plus utilities ” or leave the apartment owned M. Fishman & Co.The rent increase follows a pattern, according to renters in those buildings and housing rights activists in the neighborhood. They point to a number of similar moves Fishman has made in recent years, buying large multiunit apartment buildings, rehabbing them and significantly raising rents.Local housing groups, such as Somos Logan Square, have referred to the practice as "mass evictions," while others cite market demand and a changing neighborhood."We all kind of knew the name. What person in Logan Square doesn t know that name?" Salgado said of M. Fishman & Co. "A lot of tenants saved those letters [we received when he bought the building], where he said he couldn t wait to meet with us and talk with us, and two months later it's 'You have 30 days to get out.' Mark Fishman, who owns about 80 properties in Logan Square, bought Salgado's building at 2700 N. Milwaukee Ave. and the sister building across the street at 2715 N. Milwaukee late last year.He's the fourth or fifth entity to own the buildings in the last five years.Fishman, who bought his first building in the neighborhood 26 years ago, argues that he has helped the community thrive by investing in Logan Square long before the neighborhood became a highly desirable place to live."I believe the fundamentals of real estate were (and are) as good as it gets: excellent building stock, plentiful green space and transportation," he wrote in an email to DNAinfo Chicago. "I have the same feelings and excitement that I did 26 years ago when I purchased my first building ” the boulevard system in Logan Square truly sets it apart from any other area in the city."Fishman, who has made few comments to the media over the years, said previous ownership had allowed the last two buildings he bought on Milwaukee Avenue to fall into substantial disrepair."This reinvestment in Logan Square building stock is important toward the continued growth and vibrancy of our neighborhood, but also speaks to the pride that we take in our community," he said.While tenants admit their units had problems before Fishman took over, they said the rents were stable and allowed them, many working-class residents, to stay in the rapidly gentrifying neighborhood.Salgado wasn't the only tenant to get hit with a substantial rent increase. Numerous other tenants whose leases are up in the next month or two have been told their rents will jump anywhere from $300 a month for a studio to $600 a month for a one-bedroom.Those whose rents haven't gone up are likely to face similar increases when their leases expire.Fishman has not met with the renters but is sending them a letter Friday laying out his position.Salgado said it's been hard to get answers in the meantime."They continue to ignore our calls. They continue to ignore our emails. They aren t even willing to talk to us, Salgado said. "We at least just want answers from him."Dozens of renters in two Logan Square buildings owned by Fishman, some of whom have formed a tenants union, plan to fight the rent increases. They say the improvements to the buildings don't justify such a steep hike.Tenants hung a banner from the side of the building facing Milwaukee Avenue Sunday afternoon that read "MASS EVICTION IN PROGRESS." They have also posted fliers around the neighborhood and are planning a march Saturday afternoon.A number of housing rights groups and local religious leaders are expected to march with the tenants during the rally, which will kick off at at 11:30 a.m. at Palmer Square Park.The march will end at the Logan Square Theatre, which Fishman bought and renovated in 2012."It seems like he wants to make Logan Square some upscale neighborhood," said 29-year-old Jessie Adrignola, who lives in a studio with her boyfriend. "Right now it's great because of all the different kinds of people that live there, but he is forcing so many people out. He's just trying to get this whole gentrification thing going."Adrignola's rent is going to jump from $740 to $1,100 per month."We pretty much live in a s--- hole, but we like it because its cheap," she said. "We don t mind living in not the greatest of buildings because we are right in the heart of Logan Square, and we love it. It s a beautiful community and has lots of culture, and that s what we care about."Both buildings are less than a block from a Blue Line stop and are on a block that is seeing an influx of new businesses, including the expanded Dill Pickle Co-Op, the Harding Tavern and Hopewell Brewing Co.A representative from Fishman argued the developer has made efforts to help maintain the character of the neighborhood and helped maintain affordable housing stock in Logan Square.Those efforts include a HUD building at Milwaukee, Kedzie and Logan where he renewed leases for low-income tenants. Fishman has about 25 percent affordable units in his buildings citywide, according to a spokesman, which is far more than the 10 percent required by the city.The issue of affordable housing has been at the forefront of discussions in the neighborhood in the last few years as a number of luxury residential developments have been built and rents have increased across the neighborhood.Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35th), who ran on a progressive platform in 2015, has pushed for affordable housing.Ramirez-Rosa has stepped into the conflict between Fishman and his tenants, who coincidentally live above Ramirez-Rosa's storefront aldermanic office at 2710 N. Sawyer Ave.The alderman met with the tenants and has been trying to broker a meeting between them and Fishman."Mr. Fishman has a PR problem in the community, and the reason why he has a PR problem in the community is because of nasty things he has done," Ramirez-Rosa said. "I think what we need to understand is we need responsible landlords that are committed to working with their tenants, particularly those that are of low income and are long-term residents of Logan Square."Ramirez-Rosa said Fishman hasn't made significant repairs to the building. œI think to move into a building and not do any substantial improvements and turn around and say 'we are raising your rent' is callous and wrong, Ramirez-Rosa said.Fishman, though, isn't the only one raising rents in the hot neighborhood.Numerous other landlords in the area have requested smaller increases.Allison Fine, who has lived in a studio near Wrightwood and Sawyer working as a writer for eight years, was recently informed her rent was increasing from $800 per month to $1,000 per month."This, of course, is a way of evicting someone without evicting them, by pricing them out of their home, such as it is," Fine said. "This, of course, is not just about me."Fine said she doesn't know what to do, but is looking at studios across the city."As a senior age 67, I am now having to pack up all that I own and move out of my home after eight years here," she said. "Many others, including small businesses, are also facing the same consequences."

Gantry wrote:I did see people complaining on Everyblock when I first heard about it that these feral cats also tend to kill other animals and harm populations of species like birds as an unintended consequence. But I have no idea what those numbers are like and people on Everyblock complain about EVERYTHING, which is why I barely go there anymore despite having tons of good local information.Nature has a way of working things out, as long as we don't interfere too much. I really object to what the Audobon Society has claimed about how outdoor/feral cats decimate bird populations, and other such ridiculous stuff, which I believe is an exaggeration. As long as no one single species takes over, equilibrium finds a way. I had a TNR feral colony, and I never found evidence of a bird kill in my yard or nearby. Neutering ferals, which reduces there numbers ultimately, will result in less cats killing less birds,which is a net positive for both the birds and the cats. There will still be pet cats let outdoors, who will still kill birds, but the feral populations will stabilize and decline if they're not reproducing. It's a process. We cannot KILL strays and ferals fast enough to outpace their reproductive capacities. It is better to neuter/spay, let them maintain their territories and live out their lives, as place holders if you will. If you're more interested, see:http://www.alleycat.org/One of our own FM'ers has done more for feral cats than I can ever imagine doing in my lifetime.http://www.catsinmyyard.com/I am in awe of what she has done, and how dedicated to TNR she is. She has seen, and documented the positive effects of TNR. I can't understand the objections to TNR, or to supporting TNR colonies in any neighborhood. But, there needs to be stewardship...

AdamN wrote:Looks like I am vamoosing when I finish school. Hello Omaha!As Rents Skyrocket in Logan Square, Landlord M. Fishman Defends Steep HikesLOGAN SQUARE ” Estefania Salgado and her boyfriend have lived in their one-bedroom apartment for the last five years, paying around $800 a month, but might soon have to pay nearly double that to stay in their home.Last month she received a 30-day notice to sign a lease for $1,450 plus utilities ” or leave the apartment owned M. Fishman & Co.At the risk of sounding heartless, I have to say that if someone is living in a crappy building, on a month-to month lease basis, and your crappy building gets sold, the new owner is fully within his rights to set new terms to your tenancy. We pretty much live in a s--- hole, but we like it because its cheap, she said. We don t mind living in not the greatest of buildings because we are right in the heart of Logan Square, and we love it. It s a beautiful community and has lots of culture, and that s what we care about.So, these folks LIKE living in substandard housing?? Well, there's plenty of substandard housing out there for people who don't mind living in a month-to-month shithole. At the very least, if these folks had been on 1 year leases, they'd have had a little buffer, probably would have gotten 45-day notice, not 30, but that's the risk you take with a month-to-month tenancy.M. Fishman, while I think he's a jerk and is creating a huge housing monopoly in the hood, is not a social service agency, he's a businessman. He's been buying up properties for decades. If he fixes up the buildings, he's not doing it for free, so exactly where should the upgrade money come from, if not out of the newly refurbished units? I'm sure I'll get some pushback from the affordable housing is a RIGHT crowd, and while shelter may be a basic human need, it doesn't come for free right now.

Hah, AP has a long way to go to get to hipster..

cerebralheadtrip wrote:yea i never really got that vibe from Albany Park. i think the fact that its an hour into the Loop on the Brown Line will keep things a bit more in check.Not enough of a dive bar/arts/coffee shop/boutique scene, and I don't think hipsters are fond of sharing their hangouts with large Persian families on the weekends or whatever.

cerebralheadtrip wrote:the bigger concern is actually de-densification, which has actually happened in places like Lincoln Square, where wealthy buyers are acquiring 2 flats and converting them to SFHs. no one really protests this, but everyone protests anytime anything is upzoned. at the end of the day, renters are the one who get squeezed out. the ironic thing is, the vast majority of Chicago is illegal under current zoning laws. courtyard buildings could never be be built today. even blocks that today are filled with 3 flats, are zoned for SFHs, meaning you could demolish a 3 flat but not replace it with one. thats insane.Yeah. This is the kind of thing I saw moving into AP & Irving Park more and more. It might become Lincoln Square pt. II, not Logan.But who knows: I think Chicago also has the highest rate of people leaving right now (Hello!) so who knows how that will play into the rapidly developing areas.

PEPPER! wrote:Yngwie Einstein wrote:Jam Band Fans Unable To Come Down After Elevator Gets Stuck In Willis Towerthis sounds terrifying, I think the Willis Tower owes them some more shrooms and an apologyYeah. Jam band jokes aside that basically sounds like hell.jeff\_fox wrote:AdamN wrote:Looks like I am vamoosing when I finish school. Hello Omaha!As Rents Skyrocket in Logan Square, Landlord M. Fishman Defends Steep HikesLOGAN SQUARE ” Estefania Salgado and her boyfriend have lived in their one-bedroom apartment for the last five years, paying around $800 a month, but might soon have to pay nearly double that to stay in their home.Last month she received a 30-day notice to sign a lease for $1,450 plus utilities ” or leave the apartment owned M. Fishman & Co.or, y'know, try a neighborhood other than Logan Square ¦there's a whole new exciting world out there!I'll never understand it.. Go 5-10 minutes north! It gets better in every single way, and still pretty affordable!

jeff\_fox wrote:or, y'know, try a neighborhood other than Logan Square ¦there's a whole new exciting world out there!Whoa, sorry I was being sarcastic way over there. I lived in Hermosa/Kelvyn Park for two years in my grandmother's sweet bungalow on Wrightwood (Wrightwood is a boulevard there, perfect for stickball) and have also lived in Edgewater, west Rogers Park and Ukranian Village.Right now, I know there are ongoing, violent beefs amongst three or four gangs very near my grandmother's house. Perhaps these are people that were squeezed out of Humboldt/Logan in the past few years?Anyway, I have enjoyed the conversation this sparked. headtrip, are you an urban planner?

jimmy two hands wrote:All the cool kids are moving to Albany Park now.better yet, move to where the cool kids ARENT moving. unless you like performing this silly dance as a renter every 3 years.i had one date with a girl once who said she would wouldnt live in Chicago if she couldnt live in Logan Square. my eyes practically rolled out of their sockets.

geiginni wrote:Do NOT move to Edgewater or Andersonville. Total dump. Very uncool. Just yuppies and middle-aged gay dudes.heh. too late. been in EW for 4 years. love it.fwiw tho, my GF bought a handsome brick joint in Little Village for practically pocket change. i see all sorts of beautiful stuff down in Bronzeville and whatnot too.