Developers sought to help abandoned-property push

Efforts are under way to recruit area developers, builders andrehabbers to participate in the Chicago Abandoned Property Program.

The program, initiated by Mayor Daley in October, allows thecity to obtain abandoned buildings and provide a transfer of title togroups or individuals for improvement or demolition.

For a building to qualify under the program, the owner must havefailed to appear in court, be two years behind in payment of water orsewer taxes and the structure must have been declared unsafe forhabitation by the court.

At least 600 buildings already have been identified for possibledemolition, said Marion J. Valle, president of the Chicago Board ofRealtors.

"Chicago has thousands of abandoned buildings," Valle said. "Weare convinced that this new initiative can eliminate the hazards ofthese buildings and allow Chicagoans the opportunity to turnabandoned buildings into community assets."

Selection of the properties will be determined from a 10-membercommittee. A list of 600 properties is available.

Prospective applicants should send a business card or theirname, address and phone number to: Chicago Board of Realtors, Attn:CAPP, Chicago Abaondoned Property Program, 520 N. Michigan, Suite1300, Chicago, 60611.

Candlelight tour. The Chicago Architecture Foundation issponsoring a candlelight tour of homes in the Prairie Avenue HistoricDistrict, 1800 S. Prairie, today through Sunday.

Highlights include a tour of the Henry B. Clarke House and theJohn J. Glessner House. Hours are from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $5per house tour: $3 for CAF members. Reservations are required. Call326-1393.

Home people. The National Apartment Association's new presidentis John Smehyl of JCS Enterprises, Hawthorn Woods.

Lexington Homes' interactive video system is a finalist in theInstitute of Residential Marketing awards. Its creator is FritzGolman of Development Marketing Systems.

Jeffrey M. Benach and Mary T. Waeghe were cited for outstandingsales at the Villages, Lexington's Crystal Lake subdivision.

Nancy Kiernan and Anne Clary have been named associate directorsat the Hyde Park-Kenwood Development Corp.

Mike Spejcher is the new manager at First United Realtors inBloomingdale.

Prudential M-G-M Realty has named Don Gelfund and Ralph Bonifersalespeople of the month for October.

Dan W. Ogden was named assistant vice president at LincolnProperty Co.