Alderman Joe Moore lists Rogers Park house for $649K

In an email sent to constituents last week, 49th Ward Alderman Joe Moore announced that his family is moving and have listed their four-bedroom home on West Fargo Avenue for sale. Built in 1906, the classic American Foursquare is listed for $649,900. The house is fully updated but does feature some classic finishes. The basement has been finished and boasts a full bar and lounge area complete with a beer and wine storage room.

In his email, Alderman Moore suggests that he is making the announcement to get ahead of any rumors about his moving. He also adds that he and his wife are looking to downsize now that his adult children have moved on. Instead of living in the Victorian home on West Fargo Avenue, Moore says that he and his wife will be relocating to a condo located nearby.

“We decided to place an offer on the unit at a price we could afford and much to our surprise, the seller accepted,” Moore says in the email to constituents. “This meant we had to scramble quickly to place our current home on the market.”

However, some are suggesting that the email announcement—and the solicitation for buyers—falls in an ethical gray area. Former Chicago City Council member and longtime UIC political science professor Dick Simpson tells veteran real estate reporter Dennis Rodkin that the move was an “error in judgment” on Moore’s part. While Moore used a personal email account to blast the message, Simpson concedes that Moore did not commit a crime or do anything illegal, Rodkin reports.

Here’s a look at the house Moore has just listed for sale.

• Did alderman's 'buy my house' email cross a line? [Crain’s Chicago Business]
• 1431 W Fargo Avenue Chicago, Illinois 60626 [@properties]