ROGERS PARK — The former Morseland building on Morse Avenue has been sold, and its new owners are looking for a tenant to fill the space that has been vacant since a 2012 foreclosure, its broker said.
“We're hoping we can re-tenant it as soon as possible and try to get a great use for the neighborhood in there," said broker Keith Isselhardt, with Sierra U.S. Commercial Real Estate.
Isselhardt said the property at 1218-20 W. Morse Ave. was sold last month to the "group of guys" behind 1218 Morse LLC. He said Sierra would be managing the property.
The building was sold for $605,500, according to property records.
The Morseland was closed by the city in November 2012 after owner Gregory Altman operated the bar and music venue without a license, according to officials. Property records showed at the time Altman owed the state more than $100,000 in unpaid taxes.
Police issued the Morseland several tickets in 2012 for operating without proper city licenses, according to police reports.
Isselhardt said the building had cleared foreclosure proceedings and was ready for occupancy.
The 3,200-square-foot space has already garnered considerable interest from prospective tenants, he said.
A building permit was issued for the property in October for workers to "remove kitchen and all piping" and "replace 110 sheets of drywall," according to city records.
The adjacent property, a parking lot, was also sold to developer and Spin nightclub owner David Gassman, who owns a few nearby residential buildings, said Gassman's broker, Alan Goldberg.
That property was sold for $440,000, according to property records.
Goldberg said Gassman intended to use the parking spaces and several garages on the lot for his tenants.
Gassman could not be reached for comment.
