The organization that manages the cash-strapped Harold Washington Cultural Center recently lost its attorney in middle of a foreclosure suit against the center by ShoreBank, the bank learned at an Oct. 28 court appearance.
The organization that manages the cash-strapped Harold Washington Cultural Center recently lost its attorney in middle of a foreclosure suit against the center by ShoreBank, the bank learned at an Oct. 28 court appearance.
The judge granted Tobacco Road Inc., the non-profit organization that manages the 40,000-square foot cultural center, a few weeks to obtain another attorney, according to a spokesman for ShoreBank.
The former attorney for the cultural center, Thomas Johnson, could not be reached for comment.
ShoreBank filed a foreclosure suit in August seeking at least $1.3 million against Tobacco Road. The bank issued a mortgage for $1.4 million in March 2004, nearly six months before the cultural center opened.
“The bank will continue with its plans to foreclose,” Brian Berg, spokesman for ShoreBank told the Defender.
The Defender has unable to reach Jimilita Tillman, HWCC’s executive director.
The center, located on the southeast corner of 47th Street and King Drive, has been on a grassroots fundraising blitz to help bring the center out of foreclosure.
Efforts included volunteers standing in the intersection of 47th and King Drive asking motorists for donations to help keep the doors from being shuttered, and, online donations are solicited on the beleaguered venue’s Web site. As of Monday, the site shows that less than $200,000 in online donations had been collected.
The scrolling marquee at the center’s main entrance reads, “Honk for Harold.”
An announcement recently aired on WVONAM/ 1690 said, “Fill the barrel for Harold.”
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