A dilapidated and vandalized mansion on the edge of Flossmoor was finally be demolished on Wednesday, Jan. 12, making way for a planned multi-family living development and a unique opportunity for local residents to invest in the property’s future.
Once owned by professional basketball player Ken Norman, the abandoned homesite at 19020 Kedzie Ave. was purchased in 2018 by a real estate investment group. That group’s representative, Randy Pertler, said the house will be razed to make way for new construction.
A dilapidated and vandalized mansion on the edge of Flossmoor was finally demolished on Wednesday, Jan. 12, making way for a planned multi-family living development and a unique opportunity for local residents to invest in the property’s future.
Once owned by professional basketball player Ken Norman, the abandoned homesite at 19020 Kedzie Ave. was purchased in 2018 by a real estate investment group. That group’s representative, Randy Pertler, said the house will be razed to make way for new construction.
“We know it’s been an eyesore for a long time, and now it can be a crown jewel,” Pertler said.
With its boxy design and concrete facade, the house was built by Norman and lived in for nearly a decade until the early 2000s, when it seems he lost legal possession of it. Since then the two-story structure has fallen into disrepair, showing wear and tear from weather and vandalism. Most recently, passersby can easily spot missing chunks and graffiti tags.
The property is technically part of unincorporated Cook County, though its neighbors – CVS Pharmacy and Coyote Run Golf Course – both lie in Flossmoor. It is not connected to Flossmoor’s water and sewer systems, nor is it covered by village services such as fire and police.
If all goes according to plan, Pertler said the 88,000-square-foot piece of land will be annexed into the Village of Flossmoor. A few administrative hurdles exist, giving Pertler mixed emotions at the building finally being bulldozed.
“I feel relieved, but also kind of nervous about the next step,” he said. “Our plan will require a couple minor (zoning) variances from what Flossmoor right now allows. So we’re hoping we can work with them, and it’s a win-win for the community.”
Pertler made a failed attempt at annexation in October 2019, but this time he has support from Flossmoor Mayor Michelle Nelson after spending the last year working with her and village staff toward the goal.
Nelson said one of her priorities upon getting elected in April 2021 was figuring out the quickest and safest possible way to remove the building and considering what could be put in its place.
She credited 6th District Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller with helping her push along the process, and Nelson said the village has a good working relationship with Pertler.
“Randy’s great. He is extremely responsive and caring,” said Nelson, who is a professional civil engineer. “The unsafe condition of the property has been a concern of mine and everyone who lives in Flossmoor for a very long time. Not just the safety, but how it reflects on Flossmoor.”
TJ Cachey Builders is attached as developer for the $6 million project, which Pertler said could break ground as early as the spring season. To raise capital for the project, Pertler said he will combine a majority of bank loans with a portion of real estate crowdfunding.
Similar to crowdfunding for small businesses, inventions and other projects, real estate crowdfunding allows individuals to invest a relatively small amount of money into buying or developing real estate.
Pertler said a person could become a part owner in the Flossmoor project for an investment of $500 to $2,500, which is the limit for this type of investing.
“If it goes bad, you’re not going to be losing your life savings. But think about if you had $2,500 of Apple stock or Google stock at the beginning,” Pertler said.
“Of course, we’re not claiming anyone’s going to get rich with this, but it’s something they can take pride in, and have a sense of ownership. You could drive by and see how your investment is doing.”
Involvement will be open to qualified individual investors across the country, Pertler said.
As crews remove the house and prepare the land for construction, Pertler said he hopes the site can avoid future vandalism. Perhaps renewed interest in the site will garner positive visibility from the community, he said.
Nelson also said she has mixed emotions about the demolition. She looks forward to new residents enjoying the property, but said she can’t help but feel sorry for the loss of Norman’s former home.
“In a way it’s kind of sad because we’re taking down someone’s dream, and Kenny Norman worked really hard for that dream,” Nelson said.
“When he woke up in the morning, Kenny had some of the best views in all of Flossmoor — looking out at Coyote Run. One thing I’m really happy about is that (the property) will be put to a use that will allow a lot more people to enjoy those views.”
Related stories:
- New owners of long-abandoned Kedzie house request annexation (Sept. 26, 2019)
- The year ahead: getting rid of an eyesore and becoming a ‘reporter supporter’ (Dec. 24, 2019)
