Chicago Cheat Sheet: Alderman Ed Burke faces charges related to job as property tax attorney…& more

Powerful alderman charged

A criminal complaint filed Thursday alleges that Alderman Ed Burke (14th) tried to leverage his position to attract clients for his other job as a property tax attorney. Burke is a 50-year veteran of the Chicago City Council and chairman of its finance committee. The city was bracing for charges since November, when the FBI raided the alderman’s political offices.

Burke has faced criticism in his ward for helping President Trump lower his property tax assessment on the Trump International Hotel & Tower. [Chicago Sun-Times]

Bread company CEO spends dough on Highland Park mansion

Stu Rosen, the CEO of Northbrook-based Highland Baking, paid $4.2 million to buy a 19-room house on two acres of property in the north shore suburb of Highland Park. It was the priciest residential sale recorded in the town since 2015. [Crain’s]

Online clothing retailer joins “clicks-to-bricks” cluster in Lincoln Park

Online recreation apparel seller Outdoor Voices opened a storefront on Armitage Avenue in Lincoln Park, ramping up the trend of Internet-based retailers opening physical presences around the city. Nationwide, about 850 such stores are expected to open in the next five years. [Chicago Tribune]

Englewood veteran center fighting to stay open

Members of a Marine Corp veterans group is launching a $100,000 fundraising campaign to preserve ownership of their South Side building. The group is part of the Chicago chapter of Montford Point Marine Association, a community center for African-American Marine Corps vets. The real estate firm that owns the debt on their building has given them until Feb. 1 before initiating foreclosure. [Block Club]