Neighborly Frustration with Flossmoor Homeowner Continues

Flossmoor resident Nina Cooper learned she will have to endure daily frustration with her next-door eyesore for at least a little while longer during Monday night's .

The issue is not a new one. In fact, it's painfully drawn out, almost stagnant.

Since spring of 2011, Cooper decided to take an active role in the fate of the property next door to her, which has been blighted since fall of 2010, she says. The home went through foreclosure and was purchased by owner Bob Shahwam shortly after. Since then, neighbors, primarily Cooper, have said he’s done very little to improve the dilapidated home. Worse, they feel it’s poisoning local property values.

The village has since issued citations to the owner for neglecting the property. Mayor Paul Braun told Sun-Times Media reporters that the owner has accrued code violation fines of $5,000 to $8,000 in the past year.

Flossmoor Village Attorney Ed McCormick explained in a previous board meeting that there is little else the village can do besides pursue demolition—something Cooper strongly desires at this point. It’s not that easy, though, as McCormick has pointed out.

In mid-March, Patch published a story explaining the particulars of the situation as of a few months ago. As it stood, Shahwam was promising to get the exterior of the property cleaned up by the end of March. Right now, he’s months overdue.

According to Braun, Shahwam has not shown any signs of property improvement since early May.

“How long are you going to give this owner?” Cooper asked. “At what point in time will it no longer be frivolous to pursue a lawsuit?”

"There is no precise answer to that," McCormick responded.

According to McCormick, there is no formal established amount of time to determine when a property owner is making progress or not.

Braun explained the village issued Shahwam a work permit and, if he does not show continual signs of improvement, the village will revoke the permit and pursue demolition.

It’s a fickle process.

McCormick says, given the current state of the situaition among Shahwam, his property and the village, now might not be the opportune time to go to court. What matters in court, according to McCormick, is the question, "is it repairable?"

"… All the information we have now says it is repairable,” McCormick said. “I don’t want to go six months down the road and have to file a demolition action only to have the judge say this is still repairable and (Shahwam) can still go forward."

According to Braun, Shahwam spoke with Flossmoor Assistant Fire Chief about the issue, explaining he ran out of money—a recurring theme in this conflict. Furthermore, Braun said Shahwam is attempting to negotiate, with McCormick, the many citations he's collected over the past months so he can apply for additional financing to finish the project.

The response did not satisfy Cooper.

“He will drag this out forever and he will string us along,” she said.

McCormick told Cooper he plans to check up with Shahwam tomorrow. Mayor Braun assured Cooper the village is committed to working towards a swift resolution.

Until then, Cooper and her neighbors continue to patiently wait.

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