In 1916, my great-grandfather went into the floral and greenhouse business near
Midway Airport in Chicago. Over the decades, he built greenhouses that expanded into
nearly an entire city block and became the cornerstone of my family’s legacy.
Generations of our family worked in the business—grandparents, great-aunts and
uncles, parents, and cousins all poured their time and effort into it. The business wasn’t
just a source of income; it was the heart of our family. We made memories and built
traditions.

Although I never worked in the business myself, I grew up in its world. My great-
grandfather, grandparents and much of my family lived on the same block as the
greenhouses. As a kid, I played in those buildings, running through rows of plants with
my cousin who was closest in age to me and interacting with my great-aunts and uncles
while they planted seeds and seedlings. The greenhouses were more than
structures—they were a second home and the backdrop to countless precious
memories.

But time brought change. The flower and greenhouse industry evolved, and our family
members slowly passed on or moved on. My cousin and his wife were the last family
members still working full-time in the business. After careful consideration, they made
the difficult decision: it was time to sell the greenhouses.

The Challenges of Letting Go

The choice to sell wasn’t just bittersweet; it was daunting. The greenhouses, over 100
years old, brought with them a host of complexities: asbestos needed to be removed,
an above-ground storage tank had to be drained, and there was even a building that
encroached over the proposed property line together with a party wall. These were not
insurmountable issues, but they required careful attention to resolve.

Adding to the weight of this decision was an incredibly tough year for my cousin. He lost
both parents in less than 12 months, and shortly after his mom passed away, his wife
was diagnosed with cancer. It was a perfect storm of emotional and logistical
challenges.

Helping Carry the Weight

When my cousin asked me to help, I knew this wasn’t just another real estate
transaction. It was deeply personal. I saw it as my responsibility—not just as a lawyer,
but as family—to ensure that this transition honored the legacy of four generations and
gave him some peace of mind.

Over the course of six months, I worked alongside him to untangle the complexities. We
negotiated the sale, resolved the due diligence issues, and addressed every obstacle that arose. My goal was clear: to remove as much stress as possible and provide a
smooth and dignified closure to over a century of our family’s history.

An Honorable Closure

When the sale finally closed, it felt like the end of an era and the start of something new.
The property was sold, the burden lifted, and my cousin could move forward with fewer
worries and more room to focus on his family.

For me, this wasn’t just about resolving legal challenges. It was about giving back to my
family and providing closure to something that had shaped all of us for generations. The
greenhouses may no longer stand, but the floral business is still intact, and the
memories those greenhouses gave us—and the legacy they represent—remain.