MSU Trustee calls for investigation into name leak

I don't know all the details but there were people in the town who objected. It's one of the most affluent suburbs in Chicago, but apparently they didn't want him knocking down three houses to build a super mansion on the lake. The beaches are very valuable to the town and are used a lot for swimming and boating, so it's possible that had something to do with it. I haven't been following it but just read that he donated $3 mil to the park district for beach restoration. 

Wife's statement at a public hearing:

Kristen Ishbia tearfully addressed village trustees ahead of their unanimous Dec. 6 vote in favor of consolidating three of her family's four lakefront properties on Sheridan Road.

"When we first bought property here in Winnetka in the summer of 2020, we thought that we would be able to send our son to kindergarten here. Unfortunately, as time passes by, we are unable to build our home," Ishbia said. "Our children are missing out on being able to attend school here, play in our yard, and make friends in the neighborhood. They are missing out on being able to live our dream of a quiet authentic suburban life."

I mean, I don't know what kind of "authentic suburban life" comes along with a $77 million estate, but talk about your head simultaneously being up in the clouds and deep in your ass. 

That said, the land swap deal is controversial for a couple of reasons. First, Ishbia apparently wants to build a high wall separating his beach from that of the park district (no issue with the neighbor on the other side since they don't have a beach). 

The other is that those in the community who are protesting the move are have filed a legal motion suggesting that the land swap is not up to the park district, but is within state jurisdiction. 

In addition, some local residents have the following to say:

Residents are particularly fired up about mature trees that were chopped down to allow for construction, the removal of a lakeside bluff, and work trucks that barrel down local roads. Some people also worry that, should Ishbia ever tire of the town, he won’t be able to find a buyer for his massive home, leaving the property indefinitely vacant.

“This house will become the ‘Michael Jordan house’ of Winnetka in 30 years and will never be able to be resold,” a resident wrote on Nextdoor, referring to Jordan’s Highland Park mansion, which has been on the market for a decade.

As for Ishbia's philanthropic play to placate the local residents:

The billionaire currently constructing a $77.6 million lakefront mansion pledged Thursday to give $3 million to the community for upgrades to a neighboring beach, Crain’s reported.

“There are no strings attached,” Ishbia told the publication, even as he’s negotiating a contentious land swap with the Winnetka park district and village officials tighten their development regulations to potentially prevent approval for projects similar to the businessman’s.

All that said, should it be a simple land swap deal? Eh, I couldn't really care less what the uber-rich do with their time and money. It all seems like a waste of time and monument to vanity, but what do I know - my net worth is less than 1/1000 of Ishbia's.