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Well, that escalated quickly

Posted in:

• Illinois
• YouTube

* BGA investigative reporter…

* Block Club Chicago followed up…

A wealthy, politically connected family blocked off 3,000 square feet of public parkland in Lakeview as their own front yard for the past five years by planting hedges, Chicago Park District’s inspector general alleged in a new report.

The homeowners put in hedges and fencing in 2015, effectively cordoning off the parkland to create a makeshift yard on land reserved for public use, parks Inspector General Will Fletcher wrote in a report last week.

And for five years, the Park District has been trying to get the family to remove the approximately 4-foot-high landscaping, but they have refused.

Instead, city officials have been met with “unsubstantiated and conflicting explanations” about their right to exclude access to public parkland from an “apparently well-connected” family, Fletcher wrote.

Although the inspector general’s report does not identify the address or homeowner by name, sources confirm it refers to a sleek, modern home in the 3000 block of North Lake Shore Drive West owned by businessman Michael Tadin Jr. and his wife, Natalie Tadin.

* Good point…

* Mark Brown…

* Here’s Mark’s resulting column…

I bought some hot dogs Wednesday at Byron’s and scooted over to Lake Shore Drive West for a picnic lunch on a newly discovered patch of parkland.

It’s a lovely setting, almost like having your own private yard, much better maintained than the Chicago Park District property across the street.

In fact, you’d think it’s the front lawn of the mansion located there, set off by bushes that wrap around the property and frame a walkway that leads to the front gate.

A normal person might see those bushes and think, “That’s private property. I’m not supposed to be there.”

The homeowner, Michael Tadin Jr., swears that’s not the case.

* Heh…

* Back to Mark Brown…

Michael Tadin Jr. surrenders.

In the face of public uproar over bushes he planted that cordon off public parkland in front of his home, Tadin said Thursday he has reached agreement with the city and Park District to remove the offending hedgerow.

Workers were already on the scene early Thursday and Tadin said he expected the work to be done by the end of the day. He said sod will be planted Friday where the bushes have stood.

* Video…

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 10:08 am

Comments

1. If there’s a bustle in your hedgerow, don’t be alarmed now.

   Comment by Ron Burgundy Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 10:13 am

2. He should have put in sand rather than hedges. Then it would be a beach and the Mayor would order everyone to stay out.

   Comment by Put the fun in unfunded Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 10:13 am

3. He should face a heavy fine as well. Privilege truly brings out the worst in people.

   Comment by Excitable Boy Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 10:22 am

4. Perhaps he could have added a second set of shrubs that were taller creating a two-tiered effect, then you would be able to pass.

   Comment by OneMan Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 10:25 am

5. What a joke. If there was any political will behind it, it could have been taken care of in a couple of days.

   Another example of the power of the press, and why it is so important in our society. Even more so these days.

   Comment by Henry Francis Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 10:27 am

6. RB
   Great Beatle line. Could be the post of the day.

   Comment by Back to the Future Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 10:30 am

7. -Great Beatle line.-

   Close, Led Zeppelin.

   Comment by Ron Burgundy Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 10:34 am

8. 5 years of “asking” the homeowners, to no avail.

   My old man always said money doesn’t talk, it screams.

   Comment by efudd Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 10:35 am

9. Opps.
   Still a great line.

   Comment by Back to the Future Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 10:36 am

10. Where’s mayor Daley when you need him, he would have bulldozed these in the middle of the night 5 years ago.

    Comment by Angry Republican Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 10:37 am

11. Who’s the buffoon in City Hall that fronted for Tadin on this one?

    Comment by Wylie Coyote Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 10:38 am

12. Maybe someone should check the permits on his asphalt plants.

    Comment by Wylie Coyote Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 10:39 am

13. Poor guy. Fifteen more years and he could have made a case under adverse possession. /s

    Comment by Jocko Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 10:39 am

14. I would’ve thought Tadin’s clout went away when Daley left City Hall.

    Comment by SAP Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 10:42 am

15. “ Where’s mayor Daley when you need him, he would have bulldozed these in the middle of the night 5 years ago.”

    Doubtful since Tadin made his millions from the Daley administration. If I’m not mistaken, Tadin is from Bridgeport originally.

    Comment by Too da loo mf Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 10:44 am

16. SAP- Tadin says he donates to lots of politicians,

    Comment by Keyrock Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 10:45 am

17. Tadin’s $57 million snowplowing deal with the city of Chicago was one of the stories on Rich’s Dec. 6, 2007 Morning Shorts thread:

    https://capitolfax.com/2007/12/06/morning-shorts-378/

    Comment by Chatham Resident Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 10:45 am

18. Figure out the market value of the property and what it would have leased for, and demand restitution. If the owner doesn’t pay, put a lien on the property.

    Comment by Siualum Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 10:49 am

19. Put aside the hedges for a moment. The homeowner paved a private path from his front door to the sidewalk over parkland.

    The adjacent parcels were redeveloped in the last ten years. The other home built didn’t block of the same parkland.

    Comment by City Zen Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 10:51 am

20. It is a little shocking how milquetoast the Chicago press has gotten. Haven’t seen a single reference to Tadin’s hired truck involvement except here.

    Where’s Kass on this one? Gotta burn him up that he didn’t get to make a spectacle of himself with a grill and a chicken on that piece of parkland. For FIVE years.

    Guess Kass got taken over by the Combine.

    Comment by Chris Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 10:58 am

21. Obviously a very tardy application of the Homestead Act.

    Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 10:58 am

22. Even a well connected roach will scurry when the bright lights of the press and the public are turned on.

    Comment by Tommydanger Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 11:06 am

23. Tadin should have dumped a boat there and proclaimed himself King Streeter II.

    Comment by Proud Sucker Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 11:09 am

24. === Put aside the hedges for a moment. The homeowner paved a private path from his front door to the sidewalk over parkland. ===

    Per Mark Brown’s article, they pay $1663/year to the city for the path & steps.

    Comment by Stu Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 11:10 am

25. -The homeowner paved a private path from his front door to the sidewalk over parkland.-

    I recall one of the stories saying they got an easement to do that, which actually seems reasonable. It appears to be an easement by necessity so they are not landlocked and can get to the public way.

    Comment by Ron Burgundy Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 11:12 am

26. Disgusting. Glad he was required to remove the bushes.

    Comment by Chuck Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 11:19 am

27. Perhaps Tom DeVore should offer to represent Mr. Tadin file a suit in Clay County arguing that the removal of the hedges will place an undue burden on Tadin and his family. He can claim the that they have “protectable rights and interests at stake to be free from unlawful, arbitrary and capricious rule making,” and that the rules that city officials have formulated are “unlawful,” since they are only aimed at preventing the spread of his property lines. (nothing like reusing yesterday’s claims)

    Comment by Pot calling kettle Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 11:22 am

28. === Guess Kass got taken over by the Combine.===

    He’s too busy auditioning for Fox News. 1000 monkeys typing at 1000 keyboards would produce better material than Kass.

    Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 11:31 am

29. So how do you like dem hot dogs?

    Hadn’t seen Tadin’s name for a while, and totally unsurprising to see it surface in a situation like this.

    Comment by Johnny Tractor Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 11:33 am

30. If Daley were still mayor he would have fidgeted, let out a high-pitched whine, then muttered some mealy-mouthed justification for keeping the hedgerows, like Tadin helped beautify the city.

    Comment by Independent Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 11:33 am

31. So quick question - does this now mean the Park District has to maintain, upgrade and police the property?

    Comment by Frank talks Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 11:36 am

32. == I recall one of the stories saying they got an easement to do that, which actually seems reasonable. It appears to be an easement by necessity so they are not landlocked and can get to the public way. ==

    He pays the city for an easement (which he got through a special ordinance, which I’m sure “normal” people can get too, not just rich super connected people, right?), but the home already has a connection to Barry Avenue.

    Comment by Homebody Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 11:38 am

33. Nice work by Brown — again.
    Perhaps the newsies could ask about adjacent property owners?
    Kass missed out — again?
    Why?
    Answer starts with V.

    Comment by Annonin' Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 11:47 am

34. hey dumb/complicit bunnies (who is the Lakefront manager?) at the Park District, could have been solved by simply putting up a sign that says Chicago Park District Property. No staff time ($$$) pulling out the bushes, no waiting 5 years. Look at the maps, confirm it is yours (Park District) and get the sign up. as for the sidewalk, I think it is appropriate punishment for Tadin that anyone can walk right up to through the park to the edge, day or night, snow or rain.

    Comment by Amalia Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 11:49 am

35. Last week, Rich mentioned Mark Brown is the best columnist in Chicago and today we see another example why that’s true. Sitting in the Tadin “park” and writing a column about it — that’s good stuff. A big city newspaper columnist needs to leave the laptop behind and act like a working reporter every once and a while. Meanwhile, take a look at John Kass’s typically lazy column today. Once again, he’s trying to show he’s “in the know” by recycling observations he culls from Second City Cop. And for an added bonus, he dusts off his greatest hits from the 1990’s, pointing to his old pal Paul Vallas as the guy with the answers on policing.

    Comment by Roman Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 12:02 pm

36. The irony of these rich folks causing a literal tragedy of the commons by illegal land grabbing / greed is a bit too on the nose. This is like a political cartoon come to life.

    Eat the rich, and no, not you Rich.

    Comment by Commisar Gritty Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 12:40 pm

37. Here’s to hoping we can get some of the same scrutiny on the asphalt plant he built in McKinley Park in 2018 (MAT Asphalt)

    Kind of sad that community members have been shouting to the heavens for 2 years with occasional press coverage and no government action, but this is the story that goes viral and forces some degree of accountability to these people.

    Comment by Bobby Beagle Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 12:54 pm

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