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Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Editorial: For the love of Leo, hold your horses on seizing the pope's boyhood home, Dolton
Boy, did Dolton need that white smoke rising from the Vatican. The south suburb just outside Chicago has taken blow after blow in recent years. Former Mayor Tiffany Henyard's antics led to an FBI investigation and a separate investigation by former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who was appointed by village board members to look into allegations that Henyard had misused and mismanaged village funds. Tack on brawls in public meetings, and Dolton became a laughingstock, synonymous with dysfunction and corruption. But then came an unexpected win. Robert Prevost, a hometown boy, came seemingly out of nowhere to succeed Pope Francis as the next pontiff. That's right: Dolton nurtured the Holy Father, now one of the most famous and powerful leaders in the world. It's brought us all great pride. And now we must urge you, Dolton: Take the win. Take it, celebrate it, be proud of it. Don't let bad ideas muck it up. We were surprised and concerned by the news that Dolton plans to acquire Pope Leo XIV's childhood home either through direct purchase or by seizing it through eminent domain. The house on 141st Place in Dolton had been on the market since January. Once Leo was named pope, owner and Homer Glen-based rehabber Pawel Radzik planned to auction the home in mid-June, with a minimum asking price of $250,000. Radzik paid $66,000 for Prevost's old house and then overhauled it, saying that '80% of it is new — new flooring, new cabinets, new plumbing, new electrical, new kitchen.' Turns out, Radzik has a very determined would-be owner. 'Dolton is going to be the ultimate buyer,' village attorney Burt Odelson told Crain's Chicago Business earlier this week. It's unclear how the village would use the property, though the idea of turning it into a museum has been floated. The modest three-bedroom house is just a little over 1,000 square feet, and while it would suit a family fine, it's hard to imagine people crowding in for a guided tour. We much prefer recently sworn-in Mayor Jason House's other ideas to celebrate the village's connection to the Holy Father, which include granting landmark status to the home. We thought it made sense that the village board earlier this week approved naming the stretch of 141st Place that's home to Leo's former residence 'Pope Leo XIV Place.' And we certainly would support any and all protections to make sure nobody demolishes the childhood home of a pope. But we think it's a bad idea for the village to acquire the house. There's going to be plenty of demand — why not let someone buy it on the open market? We're particularly skeptical of the idea of using eminent domain to seize the property. The village would have to pay a fair market value if it does, but what's fair? A price tag of $250,000 seems awfully low for a home that suddenly holds so much cultural significance. Eminent domain is meant to serve the greater public good — building schools, roads or infrastructure. Using it to secure a modest home for an uncertain purpose risks setting a troubling precedent, and could expose the village to legal blowback. Not to mention another important question: Does it make financial sense for Dolton to do this? Lightfoot's investigation revealed that the village's general fund dropped to $3.65 million in debt, a sharp decline from the $5.6 million surplus it held when Henyard took office. There's a lot Dolton could do to infuse their papal ties into the village's culture that doesn't involve taking on debt and seizing private property. Hold your horses, Dolton. Celebrate your papal legacy — but do it wisely, transparently, and without burdening taxpayers or overstepping your authority. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@
Chicago Tribune
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Editorial: For the love of Leo, hold your horses on seizing the pope's boyhood home, Dolton
Boy, did Dolton need that white smoke rising from the Vatican. The south suburb just outside Chicago has taken blow after blow in recent years. Former Mayor Tiffany Henyard's antics led to an FBI investigation and a separate investigation by former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who was appointed by village board members to look into allegations that Henyard had misused and mismanaged village funds. Tack on brawls in public meetings, and Dolton became a laughingstock, synonymous with dysfunction and corruption. But then came an unexpected win. Robert Prevost, a hometown boy, came seemingly out of nowhere to succeed Pope Francis as the next pontiff. That's right: Dolton nurtured the Holy Father, now one of the most famous and powerful leaders in the world. It's brought us all great pride. And now we must urge you, Dolton: Take the win. Take it, celebrate it, be proud of it. Don't let bad ideas muck it up. We were surprised and concerned by the news that Dolton plans to acquire Pope Leo XIV's childhood home either through direct purchase or by seizing it through eminent domain. The house on 141st Place in Dolton had been on the market since January. Once Leo was named pope, owner and Homer Glen-based rehabber Pawel Radzik planned to auction the home in mid-June, with a minimum asking price of $250,000. Radzik paid $66,000 for Prevost's old house and then overhauled it, saying that '80% of it is new — new flooring, new cabinets, new plumbing, new electrical, new kitchen.' Turns out, Radzik has a very determined would-be owner. 'Dolton is going to be the ultimate buyer,' village attorney Burt Odelson told Crain's Chicago Business earlier this week. It's unclear how the village would use the property, though the idea of turning it into a museum has been floated. The modest three-bedroom house is just a little over 1,000 square feet, and while it would suit a family fine, it's hard to imagine people crowding in for a guided tour. We much prefer recently sworn-in Mayor Jason House's other ideas to celebrate the village's connection to the Holy Father, which include granting landmark status to the home. We thought it made sense that the village board earlier this week approved naming the stretch of 141st Place that's home to Leo's former residence 'Pope Leo XIV Place.' And we certainly would support any and all protections to make sure nobody demolishes the childhood home of a pope. But we think it's a bad idea for the village to acquire the house. There's going to be plenty of demand — why not let someone buy it on the open market? We're particularly skeptical of the idea of using eminent domain to seize the property. The village would have to pay a fair market value if it does, but what's fair? A price tag of $250,000 seems awfully low for a home that suddenly holds so much cultural significance. Eminent domain is meant to serve the greater public good — building schools, roads or infrastructure. Using it to secure a modest home for an uncertain purpose risks setting a troubling precedent, and could expose the village to legal blowback. Not to mention another important question: Does it make financial sense for Dolton to do this? Lightfoot's investigation revealed that the village's general fund dropped to $3.65 million in debt, a sharp decline from the $5.6 million surplus it held when Henyard took office. There's a lot Dolton could do to infuse their papal ties into the village's culture that doesn't involve taking on debt and seizing private property. Hold your horses, Dolton. Celebrate your papal legacy — but do it wisely, transparently, and without burdening taxpayers or overstepping your authority.
Chicago Tribune
16-05-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Pope Leo XIV's boyhood home in Dolton is up for auction
The owner of Pope Leo XIV's boyhood home in Dolton has put it up for auction in June, with a minimum asking price of $250,000. Homer Glen-based home rehabber Pawel Radzik paid $66,000 last year for the modest, three-bedroom ranch-style brick house on 141st Place, and he gave it a major overhaul, saying last week that '80% of it is new — new flooring, new cabinets, new plumbing, new electrical, new kitchen.' He then listed the home in January for $219,000 before cutting his asking price to $205,000 later that month and then to $199,900 in February. With the May 8 announcement that Dolton native and Cardinal Robert Prevost was the new head of the Roman Catholic Church, word broke out that the house that Radzik had been trying to sell had been the new pontiff's boyhood home. Prevost's parents sold their longtime house for $58,000 in 1996, and it had two subsequent owners before Radzik bought it. Upon the naming of the pontiff, Radzik immediately pulled the house from the market and told Elite Street at the time that he was looking into 'what is the best option for me,' regarding the home, given its newly discovered provenance and heightened prominence. Now, Radzik and his listing agent, Steve Budzik of iCandyRealty, have teamed up with auction house Paramount, with a June 18 auction date. The house has a reserve price of $250,000, meaning that Radzik has the right to reject any offers below that amount. 'We're looking for the value of the house,' Radzik said. 'We're trying to find out the value of the house.' What a new owner would do with the home is unclear — perhaps turning it into a shrine to the new pope, or alternately restoring it to how it might have looked when the pontiff was a boy. No one disputes that the house has no real equal, as Prevost is the first American ever to become pope, and the 141st Place house is the only home Prevost ever lived in while growing up. As a result, the house is the only dwelling in history inhabited by an American-born man who went on to become pope. How many bids the home will receive remains uncertain, but one thing is certain: The auction will draw a lot more attention than the average house auction. 'The more attention, the better for me,' Radzik said.
Herald Sun
13-05-2025
- Business
- Herald Sun
‘Make a larger profit': Pope Leo's childhood home is for sale
Newly elected Pope Leo XIV arrives on the main central loggia balcony of St. Peter's Basilica for the first time, after the cardinals ended the conclave, in the Vatican, on May 8, 2025. Picture:This house of God is a total real-estate blessing! The owner of Pope Leo XIV's childhood home in the suburbs of Chicago yanked the humble abode off the market overnight with potential plans to jack up the price — after learning the Catholic Church's new world leader once lived there, The New York Post reports. The eyes of the world were fixated on the Sistine Chapel on May 8, when white smoke began billowing from its chimney, indicating that a new pope had been selected on the second day of the historic religious process. Pope Leo XIV's childhood home was swiped off the market just hours after he was elected to be the next pope, having been listed for $199,000 prior to the conclave. Picture: MORE: Iconic 'Spite House' hits market for $1.2m Soon after, Chicago-born cardinal Robert Francis Prevost stepped out onto the Vatican balcony, his first appearance as the newly appointed Pope Leo XIV. Focus quickly turned to the small three-bedroom, three-bathroom abode in which the Prevost family spent many years during his childhood, with property records revealing that the dwelling had actually been listed for sale in January with an asking price of $219,000 ($A343,800). White smoke billowed through the Sistine Chapel chimney on May 8, indicating that a new pope had been selected. Picture:'[The real-estate agent] called me and said, 'Hey, the pope used to live in your house.' I'm like, 'Stop joking,' ' said Pawel Radzik, a property flipper who was ready to unload the home for around $200,000 before realising it's now a gold mine. 'I'm going to keep it for now,' Radzik said. 'I'm excited. … I'm lucky to have it.' His Realtor, Steve Budzik, told The New York Post, 'It's like a winning lottery ticket. 'What are the chances?' After learning of the pad's now-famous roots late Thursday, Radzik is increasing the price before putting it back on the market or even potentially turning it into a museum or another historic landmark. MORE: Common item banned from royal homes The inside of the home. Picture: The three-bedroom, three-bathroom property is set to become a historical landmark thanks to its past, which saw the new leader of the Catholic Church growing up there. Picture: The property, which is listed under an LLC, offers 111.5 sqm of living space and has a humble exterior surrounded by lush greenery. Inside, there is an open floor plan that accentuates the main living area and cozy fireplace. The average-sized kitchen comes complete with a marble countertop and ample cabinet space. On Thursday — after the world learned Chicago native Robert Prevost was named the first American pope — Radzik received four offers on the five-bedroom, two-bathroom house. Radzik, who moved from Poland in 2006, said he was at a doctor's appointment with his pregnant wife when his Realtor called with the jaw-dropping news of his property's provenance. The homeowner — a father of two who was quick to note he and his wife will not be calling their soon-to-be-born third child, a boy, Leo — said the house had been essentially gutted for resale. MORE: Exposed: Costco's hidden detail in Aus stores The average-sized kitchen has a marble countertop and ample cabinet space. Picture: The only thing still original are the walls,'' he said. 'Everything else was replaced.' Previous residents of the home were known for bringing trouble to the block by dealing drugs from it, neighbours told The New York Post. '[There was] drug-trafficking. Then it stopped. Then another family moved in, and there was a lot of violence,' said next-door neighbour Donna Sagna-Davis, adding she often felt 'harassed.' 'We prayed and prayed,' she said, adding news of the pope's pad could help the area. 'This is going to make it even better.' Sagna-Davis wants the home to become 'a special landmark for our community, for people to come here and pray.' The modest-looking abode — which the pope's family bought in 1949, paying a $US42 monthly mortgage — had previously been on the market for more than 100 days. 'It was listed for 200 [thousand dollars], but there is no way he's going to sell it for 200 with all the value it has now,' Budzik said. 'I'm sure people have a similar idea to make it for tours.' However, US residents were quick to slam the opportunistic owner, calling him out for his 'greed'. 'This kind of price gouging should be illegal. Just because a house has historical or celebrity value doesn't justify inflating the price to outrageous levels,' said Mario. 'Personally I'd avoid it like the plague,' said Arabella. 'Ah yes, good old fashioned American Greed never goes out of style,' said Whodat. Radzik, who was seen Friday cleaning up the house as a throng of media flocked to the property, said renovators painted floors and added bedrooms to the house. 'It's been quite interesting the last 24 hours,'' Budzik added. 'Just with all the activity and people are making offers and calling and wanting to see it.' Parts of this story first appeared in Realtor and The New York Post and were republished with permission.
Chicago Tribune
11-05-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Pope Leo XIV's boyhood home in Dolton was on the market until Thursday. What comes next for the house?
When home rehabber Paweł Radzik bought a modest, three-bedroom ranch-style house in south suburban Dolton last year for $66,000, he saw it as a chance to do what he does best: make some upgrades and turn around and sell the property for a profit. What Radzik did not know at the time of his purchase, however, was the home's divinely inspired origins. The house, on East 141st Place in Dolton, was the boyhood home of Robert Prevost — now known to the world as Pope Leo XIV. Prevost's parents — Louis, a school administrator who died in 1997, and Mildred, a librarian who died in 1990 — had owned and lived in the brick house for decades. Louis Prevost sold the home in 1996 for $58,000. The future pontiff lived in the house full-time until going off to a Michigan seminary for high school in 1969 and, following that, to college at Villanova University in 1973. His parents continued to live there, making the dwelling something of a home base for the young priest-in-training. Now, with Prevost voted to become the first-ever pope from the United States, East 141st Place in Dolton has a landmark unlike no other in this country. Needless to say, the excitement over the home's prior inhabitant has sparked some interest from buyers. Radzik, who is based in Homer Glen, first listed the house in January for $219,000. He cut his asking price to $205,000 later that month and then to $199,900 in February. Radzik confirmed to the Tribune that in the wake of the announcement, he immediately received some offers for the house. However, he decided to take the home off the market Thursday, after Leo XIV's selection and word got out that he and his family had resided there. What comes next for the house remains to be seen. However, its provenance has given rise to speculation that a buyer might pay a premium to own a home with such a unique prior resident. Whether local officials would permit the conversion of the house to a museum commemorating Leo XIV, for example, also is unclear. At the moment, Radzik is cautiously evaluating potential opportunities involving the home. 'I got a little lucky, eh?' Radzik said Friday. 'I don't know what I want to do — I gotta play it smart. I have a few options. I gotta see what is the best option for me. I gotta do it smart. I'm not in a rush to sell. I want to take it slow.' A Catholic himself, Radzik immigrated to the U.S. from Poland in 2006. He said the house 'was in pretty bad shape when I bought it.' 'I would say 80% of it is new — new flooring, new cabinets, new plumbing, new electrical, new kitchen,' he said. Asked if the house contains any remnants from the Prevost family's ownership, Radzik said: 'It's hard to say. It was (so many) years ago (that they owned it). I would say zero.' Radzik wasn't the only one surprised by the pontiff's family's onetime ownership of the Dolton house. Guillermina Terrell of Homewood owned the home with her husband from 2018 until 2024, when they sold it to Radzik. While Terrell and her husband never lived in the house — the couple bought it for use by her mother-in-law, who now has passed away — Terrell was stunned to learn of the ranch style-home's prior inhabitant. 'You're kidding. Oh my God, that's amazing,' Terrell said when informed that it was the pope's boyhood home. 'OK, I'm just mind-blown.' Like Radzik, Terrell also is Catholic, and she noted that she has two priests in her family. 'I can't wait to tell my grandparents, because they are very devout Catholics,' she said. Terrell said she saw no markers to indicate such a prominent prior resident. 'I mean, I can't say for sure that it was unique. It was bigger than it looked from the outside,' she said. The Terrells bought the home in 2018 from a bank that had foreclosed on it from the family that bought it from the Prevost family. However, Terrell said she now feels 'like an inner peace' about having owned a home once inhabited by the 267th pope. Dolton hopes ties to Pope Leo XIV will burnish town's image and spur growthAlthough church properties are exempt from property taxes, homes of future pontiffs are not necessarily blessed in that way. The Dolton house had a $7,235 property tax bill in the 2023. Built in 1949, the house has two bathrooms, recessed lighting in the living room, a formal dining room, a center gallery staircase and a kitchen with a breakfast bar, custom white cabinetry, granite countertops, stainless-steel appliances and multi-level lighting. Other features include a full bath with a Jacuzzi tub on the first floor, a second full bathroom upstairs and a finished basement with a laundry room and exterior access. The house has new porches, new siding, new doors and a new garage roof.
