* Greg Hinz told us earlier this week that the feds were “examining business deals” involving Ald. Austin. Here’s Mary Ann Ahern…
A day after federal agents raided the offices of Chicago Ald. Carrie Austin, new details are beginning to emerge over what exactly it was they were looking for.
On Thursday, NBC 5 learned about questions surrounding the home Austin built three years ago. The home is in an area where the alderman requested a zoning change, and it was also part of a TIF district, according to sources.
Documents show that Austin requested a zoning change in April 2016 for the land where her home, as well as a group of condominiums, were built.
The developers building the project received a $3.6 million TIF for six single family homes and 80 condos, according to the documents.
Just four months after the zoning upgrade on the land, Austin received a building permit to build a $300,000 home on the site. The land she owns in the area, a total of 70,000 square feet, is valued at nearly $900,000.
Ald. Austin’s most recent economic disclosure statement claims she had no outside income above $1,000.
- Morty - Friday, Jun 21, 19 @ 4:02 pm:
Oops
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jun 21, 19 @ 4:16 pm:
Ya can’t have the disclosures look like ya can’t build a building like that, and need a zoning change, and expect in this climate someone might have questions.
A decade ago… maybe it’d catch a sniff or a shrug…
But the developer, the zoning change, the TIF…
Yikes.
- Donnie Elgin - Friday, Jun 21, 19 @ 4:41 pm:
Trapped by her own words (or lack of words on the statement of economic interest). Its the lies that get you.
- Juice - Friday, Jun 21, 19 @ 4:58 pm:
This isn’t intended to be a defense, because I have no idea what actually happened. But on the outside income, she would likely also be receiving a survivors benefit from her husband’s pension, which could be pretty decent sum by this point.