Robert H. Gerstein has been the attorney for the developers of numerous buildings, including the Illinois Center, which was constructed using air rights over the Illinois Central Rail Road tracks; a major portion of the Hyde Park-Kenwood Urban Renewal Area; Escada Plaza at 840 North Michigan Avenue; and the acquisition and development of the new state-of-the-art printing and distribution facility for one of Chicago's major newspapers. Currently, he is working on the redevelopment of a large vacant land parcel in the South Loop.
Representing a major construction contractor, Mr. Gerstein has negotiated construction contracts for such high profile projects as the renovation of the Chicago, Oriental and Palace Theaters, the former DisneyQuest Chicago Entertainment Center, major renovations at the Old Orchard Shopping Center in Skokie, the retail development at Chicago and Michigan Avenues, and the major communication center in the former Montgomery Ward Catalogue House. Many of the recent contracts involve TIF Redevelopment Agreements wherein the Contractor assumes certain MBE/WBE and other undertakings of the developer.
As member and Chairman of the Highland Park Housing Commission, Mr. Gerstein was instrumental in the development of three low and moderate income housing developments in Highland Park, Ill. As a founding board member of the Home Investment Fund and a board member of the Leadership Council for Metropolitan Open Communities, he has been involved in fair housing activities for more than 20 years.