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Could this be part of what the feds are looking at?

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* 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.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Jun 21, 19 @ 3:58 pm

Comments

Oops

Comment by Morty Friday, Jun 21, 19 @ 4:02 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.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jun 21, 19 @ 4:16 pm
Trapped by her own words (or lack of words on the statement of economic interest). Its the lies that get you.

Comment by Donnie Elgin Friday, Jun 21, 19 @ 4:41 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.

Comment by Juice Friday, Jun 21, 19 @ 4:58 pm

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