Radio Host Voices Concern About 'Run Down' Vacant Homes in Highland Park

Highland Park officials may soon begin discussion about potential further action that could be taken in regards to vacant properties in the city after residents - including a popular award-winning sports reporter for Chicago’s WSCR-AM/670 The Score - voiced concerns at a City Council meeting earlier this month - according to the Daily North Shore.

David Schuster, an on-air reporter, update anchor and part-time host for The Score, said he was tired of being “held hostage” by the vacant home adjacent to his on Barberry Road. He says a penalty should be given to banks who allow properties to stay vacant for a number of years.

“In essence this house is holding our community hostage, because it is run down. Even though it is supposedly living up to the codes of the city, and I do appreciate the city for taking whatever actions they have taken at this point. My house has been on the market for four or five months and I didn’t get one nibble. Now I can’t tell you 100% that it was because of the abandoned house next to us, but I’m sure it constituted for part of the reason,” he said.

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Schuster has since taken his home off the market.

“There was no action taken whatsoever for the first two years it was abandoned,” he added of the home that has seen water bills pile up outside and reports of wild animals. “The neighbors took turns mowing the lawn for the first year.”

City Manager Ghida Neukirch said the city is working on addressing the wild animals at the property, but there isn’t much they can do in penalizing the banks.

But Mayor Nancy Rotering said the topic should be mentioned at a Committee of the Whole meeting about any action that could be taken by the city.

“I have one of these (vacant houses) in my neighborhood and other people have talked about the frustrations of having these houses in their neighborhoods. It’s just a blight on the neighborhood,” she said. 

more via the Daily North Shore

File photo of vacant home. Not the one on Barberry Road.