Professional services experts can help you manage life’s big issues
September 3, 2010By Marie Balice Ward
Real estate, legal issues, banking and finance, insurance, and health are life’s big issues. Local professionals can help you make sense of these difficult and complicated topics.
REAL ESTATE
Bill Altier, Koenig & Strey Real Living, 1516 W. Taylor St., (312) 261-8606, fax (866) 800-5153, Bill@AltierTeam.com, www.Bill-Altier.com. A Gazette newspaper advertiser since 1990, the Altier Team was founded by Bill Altier with the motto “Driven to make a difference.” The Altier team provides sales and leasing of residential and commercial properties throughout the Near West area of Chicago, with special focus in the Little Italy/Taylor Street, University Village, and Tri-Taylor neighborhoods.
With his proven team approach and a wealth of more than 33 years of real estate sales experience, Altier and his team of associate agents, lenders, lawyers, tradespeople, and professional service providers are making a lasting impact as one of the Near West Side’s leading real estate professional firms. For buyers, Altier uses his in-depth local knowledge as a Chicago native and personalized search strategies to find the ideal property. For sellers, he provides a powerful marketing presence to generate a maximum amount of exposure for property and uses his business expertise to maximize results. Look for the Altier Koenig & Strey Real Living ad in this issue.
Fu is the recipient of a National 30 Under 30 Award by the National Association of Realtors. He is the 2009 Chicago Association of Realtors bronze-level award winner, and the 2007 @properties Road to Rolex award winner. Fu’s motto is, “Let Eugene show you how his proven marketing strategies can work for you!” Among his current listings are properties in the South Loop, Disney Magnet District, University Village, River North/OldTown, Pilsen, and Buena Park, as well as many other Chicago communities.
C. Gallucci Realty Inc., 1355 W. Taylor St., (312) 421-1355. Carmen Gallucci, owner of C.Gallucci Realty Inc., is a fourth- generation resident of the Near West Side community. He is a family man who is truly committed to the neighborhood. He both lives and works in the community. Each client of Gallucci Realty is personally assisted throughout the entire buying or selling process. The goal is to help provide a satisfying experience, rather than one of undue stress or pressure. In addition to assisting clients with sales and purchases, Gallucci Realty offers expert service in property management and apartment rentals.
The professional staff at C. Gallucci understands each client’s individual needs. The office has a solid reputation throughout the community and surrounding areas for its knowledgeable, honest staff; personal service; and high success rate in selling property. Gallucci’s orange and black signs are a visible presence throughout the neighborhood. C. Gallucci Realty Inc. is open seven days a week, and has a 24-hour phone service. When you call you always are greeted by a person, and not a recording. Carmen Gallucci and the C.Gallucci Realty staff truly appreciate the opportunity to assist customers in their housing needs, and continue to work hard in ensuring that past, present, and future clients get the professional support they desire when it comes to real estate transactions.
Commercial property: 1300 S. Wabash Ave., (312) 263-8787 for leasing (Rubloff Commercial) and (847) 329-7600 for management (Weiss Properties); Rubloff Commercial fax (312) 263-0181, jzimmerman@rubloff.com, www.rubloffcommercial.com and Weiss Properties fax (847) 329-7676, www.weissproperties.com. The property at 1300 S. Wabash Ave. is a two-story, 15,360 sq. ft. building located on the southwest corner of Wabash Ave. and 13th St. Two spaces are currently being marketed for lease—a 2,003 sq. ft. retail space on the ground floor and a 2,650 sq.ft. office suite on the second floor. Asking rents range from $15 to $20 per sq. ft. modified gross. Both spaces are available and ready for immediate occupancy.
Gordon Realty Co., 809 W. 35th St., (773) 927-4329. Founded by William P. Gordon Sr. in 1931, Gordon Realty serves the Bridgeport, Canaryville, and McKinley Park areas, as well as the rest of the city with a full-service office. Gordon Realty has been a developer since the early 1960s, creating a neighborhood of single-family, multi-unit dwellings and townhouses. Philip K. Gordon, broker, manages current business. His staff agents bring ten or more years of experience in their field. All agents are trained to address current needs of sellers with in depth market research as well as honest advice as to the best marketing approach to ensure a stress-free transaction.
The firm is a member of the MLS system, which gives Gordon Realty properties great exposure. The firm’s customers who are buyers find the same high-energy assistance from agents who are dedicated to helping them find the right home at the best price. Gordon Realty provides advice on home inspections, warranty programs, and current lender information, as well as first-time buyer programs.
A year ago affiliated with Koenig & Strey GMAC Real Estate Services on Taylor Street, the exclusive agent for the Trump Towers. Koenig & Strey’s Taylor Street office is staffed by established agents who are very familiar with the area. The Perez office is a satellite of Koenig & Strey’s Gold Coast office, located in the 900 N. Michigan Avenue building, and can meet clients in both locations or in any Koenig & Strey offices in the Chicagoland area. Between both the Taylor Street and Michigan Avenue offices, there are 200 agents. Other languages spoken in the Taylor Street office are Spanish and Italian. A full-service agency, the Perez team’s practice offers residential, commercial, building/development, and leasing real estate services. Hours: Mon. through Fri. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sat. and Sun. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Other hours available by appointment.
Millennium Properties R/E, Inc., 20 South Clark St., Suite 630, (312) 338-3000, www.mpirealestate.com, also on Facebook and Twitter. Since 1996, Millennium has provided commercial real estate brokerage – sales and leasing – as well as property management, asset management, receivership services, and consulting. Millennium also provides apartment leasing services. Top staff members include Daniel J. Hyman, president; Susan B. Silver, executive vice president; and Brad Thompson, vice president. Hours: Mon. through Fri. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Appointments are recommended.
Morgan Square Development, Phase One, 951W. 34th St., Units A to D; and Phase Two, 3401-3407 S. Morgan St., Listing office is Landmark Property, agents Alice Tse and Amy Lu, (773) 299-1228, fax (773) 299-1239, www.landmarkproperty.net. Phase One of this new townhouse development by M & C Property LLP is about 90% completed and Phase Two is scheduled for completion in spring 2011. Each of the phases contains four units that are about 2,300 sq. ft. in size with attached two-car garage. All of the units have three bedrooms and two and-one-half baths.
New West Realty, 1440 W. Taylor St., (312) 829-2100, fax (312) 243-9593, www.newwestrealty.com. New West Realty offers development, construction, and residential and commercial brokerage services. New West Realty represents clients and properties and develops communities throughout the greater metropolitan Chicago area ranging from the northern suburbs, southern suburbs, and western suburbs to the South and West Loop areas of the City. New West Realty continues to offer rental apartments in the Taylor Street community, Near West Side, and the South Loop.
For more information about rentals, call (312) 243-2525. One of several new exciting properties that New West Realty has recently developed and is ready for occupancy is 1555 South Wabash in the South Loop. At the corner of 16th St. andWabash Ave., 1555 South Wabash is a 14-story condominium building with a 10,000-sq.-ft. retail component on the first floor. There are 176 units with one, two, and three-bed rooms, ranging in price from $199,900 to $619,900. Amenities at 1555 South Wabash Ave. include great city and lake views, large covered balconies, and a fitness center. Indoor parking, which is sold separately, also is available. For more information about 1555 South Wabash Ave., call (312) 829-2100 ext. 166.
INSURANCE
Allstate Insurance—Hilda Thompson Agency, 1512 S. Wabash Ave., (312) 435-2200. Located in the South Loop, Hilda Thompson’s Allstate Insurance agency’s specialty is the condominium market. The agency also offers a full spectrum of insurance products including auto, home, rental, business, and life insurance. Hours: Mon. through Fri. 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Sat. by appointment.
American Family Insurance, Dominic Lai, 245W. 23rd St., (312) 567-7001. American Family Insurance has been serving the South Loop, Chinatown, and Bridgeport areas since 1992. Its motto: “All your protection under one roof.” True to its motto, American Family Insurance offers a complete portfolio of insurance coverage: auto, home, health, business, and life. American Family realizes that as times change, so do insurance needs. Lai helps ensure that his clients’ coverage keeps pace with ever-changing needs. Hours: Mon. through Fri. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sat. 9 a.m. to noon.
BANKING/FINANCIAL
Community Investment Corporation (CIC), 222 S. Riverside Plaza, Suite 2200, (312) 258-0070, martin.berg@cicchicago.com, www.cicchicago.com. CIC, a not-for profit organization, is a leading multifamily rehab lender. CIC provides financing to buy and rehab multifamily apartment buildings, maintaining a minimum of five units per building as a criterion for lending. CIC serves Chicago’s entire six county metropolitan area. In addition to financing, CIC offers property management training to help owners and managers better market, manage, maintain and improve affordable rental property.
Since 1984, CIC has lent $1 billion for more than 1,600 buildings for a total of 44,000 units. Average loans are $750,000 for a 24-unit building. CIC loans are capitalized from a pool of more than $400 million from 31 banks. The organization also closes and services its own loans with construction and acquisition in one process, and it offers Energy Savers loans at reduced rates to improve energy consumption in apartment buildings. CIC is certified as a Community Development Financial Institution by the U.S. Treasury. More than half of the CIC 37-member staff has been with the organization for ten or more years. Hours: Mon. through Fri. 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Lakeside Bank Mortgage Department, 2141 S. Indiana Ave., (312) 435-5100, www.lakesidebank.com. Lakeside Bank’s mortgage department — located in the South Loop— offers a wide variety of loans that are sold to the same secondary lenders as those of larger institutions. Meetings also can be held at the bank’s six other branches. Among the products offered by Lakeside Bank — for single-family, condominium, and two-to-four unit apartment buildings — are FHA loans, Fannie Mae conventional loans, Freddie Mac conventional loans, Illinois Housing Department Authority loans, and jumbo loans.
What distinguishes Lakeside from other mortgage lenders, stated Juanita Perez, who heads up the mortgage department for Lakeside, is personalized service, the speedy turn-around (about 30 days), while offering interest rates that are competitive with larger institutions. Perez has been at Lakeside Bank’s mortgage department for eight years and offers a total of 23 years of lending experience — all within the Chicagoland area. Free consultation regarding the qualifications and documentation needed to secure a mortgage is available by calling (312) 435-5100. Hours: Mon. through Fri. 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sat. by appointment.
LEGAL
Schoenberg, Finkel, Newman & Rosenberg, LLC (SFNR), 222 S. Riverside Plaza, Suite 2100, (312) 648-2300, fax 312-648-1212, tom.dorsey@sfnr.com, herbert.rosenberg@sfnr.com, www.sfnr.com. Schoenberg Finkel, Newman & Rosenberg (SNFR), a firm that is a member of the Chicago Bar Association, Real Estate Taxation Committee, and International Association of Assessing Officers, believes that creating tax reduction strategies for real estate tax clients is as much an art as it is a science. SFNR contends that while it is important to understand all the relevant laws and have the experience to know what to do in different situations, equally important is the use of sound instincts and creativity consistent with such experience. SFNR has the savvy to recognize when an economic analysis is off or when a negative aspect of a building should reduce the assessed valuation. The firm’s members have a “sixth sense” about what can and cannot be used to reduce taxes. At the same time, they do not neglect the nuts-and-bolts elements crucial to this legal discipline. SFNR is diligent about keeping track of and meeting all deadlines and all other client real estate tax requirements.
Over the years, SFNR has had significant success in reducing assessed valuations for a range of commercial, industrial, and apartment buildings. They are astute at building a convincing, credible case for each client. SFNR also relies on its lawyers who are intimately familiar with the City of Chicago’s tax codes and real estate market, to help clients avoid many annoying delays and other obstacles. Hours: Mon. through Fri. 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
HEALTH AND FITNESS
Since the mid-1990s, Chicago Treatment and Counseling has been providing professional and confidential methadone treatment for individuals addicted to heroin or prescription pain killers. They also provide DUI services for individuals wishing to regain driving privileges. All of the counselors are CADC (certified alcohol and drug counselors), and nurses at the Chicago Treatment and Counseling Centers are LPNs (licensed practical nurses). At each site there is one nurse and three counselors. Hours vary by location and no appointment is necessary. For obligation-free and confidential information contact one of the centers listed above.
Erika L. Ewer, L.A.c., Dipl.OM, 551 W. 31st St. (Bridgeport Family Chiropractic Center) and 2052 N. Cleveland Ave. (Armitage Chiropractic and Wellness), (773) 413-9871, erika.ewer@gmail.com. Ewer is a licensed acupuncturist and herbalist who implements acupuncture, herbal therapy, cupping, gua sha, moxibustion lifestyle, and dietary recommendations to reduce chronic or acute pain caused by repetitive stress or sports or work related injuries. These therapies also alleviate stress and anxiety and improve energy, sleep, and digestion. They also address male and female health concerns, diminish the signs of aging, and overall promote whole body health, she stated.
Ewer is nationally board-certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine andthe Stateof Illinois for both acupuncture and herbal therapies. She studied for four years at the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, receiving an MS degree in Traditional Oriental Medicine. She also is certified for constitutional facial rejuvenation. She practices at the Bridgeport location on Mon., Wed., and Fri. and at the Lincoln Park office on Tues. and Thurs. Day and evening appointments are available at both locations.
The Foot Clinic, 1226 W. Taylor St., (312) 243-3769, fax (312) 243-3840. The Foot Clinic has been part of the Taylor Street community for 30 years, serving the needs of community members with foot and ankle disorders, and performing complex surgical procedures. Frank William Zappa, DPM, and his associates provide individual treatment of common foot disorders, diabetic wounds, and sport and work-related injuries. Achilles tendon pain, arthritic foot and ankle care, neuroma, heel pain, geriatric foot care, ankle injuries, bunion deformities, metatarsalgia, poor circulation, and lower extremity neuropathy are treated on a daily basis.
Dr. Zappa has practiced podiatric medicine and surgery for more than 40 years. He and his staff are board certified. He is the section chief of podiatry and the vice chairman of surgery at St. Anthony Hospital, where he also serves on the credentials committee. Dr. Zappa has served as the program director for the St. Joseph Hospital/North Chicago VAMC Podiatric Surgical Residency since 1991, and presently serves on the Medical Executive Committee as the Department of Surgery Representative at St. Joseph Hospital. He is on staff at multiple free standing surgery centers throughout the city and suburbs. The Foot Clinic accepts Medicare, Medicaid, most managed care plans, HMOs, PPOs, and traditional insurance plans. It also accepts out-of-network patients on an individual basis, and fees are negotiable. Hours: Mon. 1 to 6 p.m.; Tues. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Wed. 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thurs. and Fri. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and Sat. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Mercy Hospital & Medical Center, 2525 S. Michigan Ave. (312) 567-2600, www.mercy-chicago.org. Founded in 1852, Mercy enjoys a rich history of advanced medicine that continues today as a teaching hospital affiliated with the University of Chicago, the University of Illinois, and Loyola University. At Mercy, patients find a gold standard of health care. It has a nationally recognized heart and vascular center; a leading Lap-Band Weight Loss Surgery program which is minimally invasive and offers an innovative new technique that leaves no visible scarring; a comprehensive breast and women’s health care center, offering digital mammography for early detection when breast cancer is most treatable; and a diabetes treatment center.
Mercy is also home to a primary stroke center, a new cancer center, and a state-of-the-art Emergency Center that includes the Higginbottom Urgent Care for Kids Unit. Mercy’s new comprehensive orthopedic center has the cure for all of your bone, joint, and musculoskeletal ills. Mercy’s expert board-certified orthopedic surgeons offer broad specialty and sub-specialty expertise, establishing Mercy as a leader in orthopedic care and rehabilitation. Mercy provides a network of satellite facilities, with free parking, conveniently located in neighborhoods within Chicago, and three immediate care facilities, where no appointment is needed. Its South Loop location, Mercy Medical at Dearborn Station, offers a wide array of services including immediate care, primary and specialty care physicians, an integrative medicine and wellness program, as well as outpatient care including mammography, laboratory, ultrasound, and x-ray. For more about the Lap-Band technique, there is a free informational session on Fri., Sept. 17 at 2525 S. Michigan Ave., Joyce Auditorium. While free, registration is required at (312) 567-2263.
Pediatric Dental Health Associates Ltd. (PDHA), 737 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1330 (entrance at 161 E. Chicago Ave.), (312) 266-8198, www.chicagokidsdds.com. PDHA provides full-service dental care for children and patients with special needs. Drs. Mary Hayes, Joanne Oppenheim, and Marilia Montero each earned specialty licenses in pediatric dentistry and are popular with kids and parents alike. Dr. Hayes is nationally recognized as an expert in pediatric dentistry and is the recipient of many professional honors.
Other specialists who share the offices include orthodontists and a speech therapist. Most of the treatment offices are in open rooms that make it easy for parents to be present while their child is being examined and to interact with the doctors and staff. Everything is explained in an age appropriate manner, so the child learns while having fun. The doctors’ passion is educating children and parents about the best ways to take care of teeth and gums to ensure optimal dental health and prevent the onset of dental disease. The doctors and staff at PDHA are dedicated to help your children develop healthy smiles to last a lifetime. Appointments can also be scheduled online. Hours: Mon. through Fri. 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Sat. 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Saint Anthony Hospital, 2875 W.19th St., (773) 484-1000, www.saintanthonyhospital.org, info@saintanthonyhospital.org. An independent Catholic community hospital headed by Guy A. Medaglia, president and chief executive officer, Saint Anthony has 151 licensed beds and its staff size is 137. Since 1897, physicians and staff of Saint Anthony have provided medical care, social services, and community outreach programs to an extensive area including Pilsen, Little Village, Brighton Park, Back of the Yards, and the North and South Lawndale communities.
Saint Anthony provides a full continuum of care—acute, medical, primary, pediatric, obstetric, and surgical to these communities’ residents. A recipient of many awards and recognitions over the years, Saint Anthony Hospital in June received the Wal-Mart West Side Community Builders Award for Outstanding Achievement in Healthcare. Saint Anthony Hospital lives out the loving ministry of Jesus Christ offering health, healing, and hope to the families it serves.
Dr. Dominic J. Tolitano, MD, F.A.C.S., 601 W. Randolph St., and two suburban locations: Westchester and Wood Dale, IL, (630) 860-0035. Dr. Tolitano is a board certified cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon who provides his patients with a wealth of knowledge and expertise. During his 20-plus years of experience in cardiovascular and thoracic surgery, he has conducted more than 5,000 surgical cases. He also has performed endovascular venous laser therapy and sclerotherapy since 2001, having donemore than 40,000 EVLT’s, the highest amount by anyone in the entire metropolitan Chicago area, he stated. Dr. Tolitano received his medical degree from Chicago Medical School in 1982. He completed his residency in general surgery at Michael Reese Hospital in 1987 and completed his fellowship in cardiothoracic and vascular surgery at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood in 1989.
University Village Chiropractic, 1354 W. Taylor St., (312) 733-8589, fax (312) 733-8533, www.uvchiro.com. Full body treatments are offered at Dr. Brian Miller’s and Dr. Sam Battaglia’s University Village Chiropractic, with techniques that also include vitamins and botanical supplements. In addition to care for neck and back pain, alternative treatments for arthritis, hormone replacement health issues, attention deficit disorders, obesity, colds, high cholesterol, and other medical conditions are addressed. Most medical insurance plans are accepted. Hours: Mon. through Fri. 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sat. 9 a.m. to noon.
