WHEREAS, the Zeller Realty Group, a Chicago-based commercial real estate investment firm comprised of five separate divisions specializing in property acquisition, management, capital investment, brokerage, and residential development founded by Paul M. Zeller, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Principal, is celebrating its thirtieth anniversary in 2018; and
WHEREAS, the Chicago City Council has been informed of this important milestone anniversary by Alderman Edward M. Burke; and
WHEREAS, with satellite offices in Denver, Minneapolis, and Indianapolis, the Zeller Realty Group is one of Chicago's most influential and highly successful commercial real estate firms, owning and operating 9.5 million square feet of office property valued at $2.3 billion dollars and a real estate portfolio that is disbursed over seven states, including Illinois, Minnesota, Indiana, Wisconsin, Colorado, Oregon and Georgia; and
WHEREAS, before founding Zeller Realty Group. Paul M. Zeller was a General Partner and Stockholder in The John Buck Company, and was involved in the development of over four million square feet of high-rise commercial office property; and
WHEREAS, Paul M. Zeller is a Founding Stockholder of Buck Investment Company, a hotel portfolio of over 1,200 rooms; and
WHEREAS, Prior to entering the commercial real estate field, Paul M. Zeller was a Vice President of The First National Bank of Chicago; and
WHEREAS, Paul M. Zeller is a visiting lecturer at the University of Chicago Booth and Northwestern University Schools of Business and is actively involved in numerous civic, professional, philanthropic and artistic organizations including The National Trust for Historic Preservation, the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts, the Chicago International Film Festival, the Greater North Michigan Avenue Association and the Chicago Chapter of the National Eagle Scout Association; and
WHEREAS, the Zeller Realty Group enhanced and enriched the beauty of Michigan Avenue with the strategic placement of public art along the busy thoroughfare for the enjoyment of Chicago citizens, tourists and visitors; and
WHEREAS, BDT Partners led by founder Byron Trott (working with the Zeller Realty Group) acquired Chicago's Wrigley Building in September 2011; and
WHEREAS, the Zeller Realty Group led a $70 million-dollar renovation of the iconic 1924 building, designed by Graham, Anderson, Probst & White, restoring it to its original splendor; and
WHEREAS, The Wrigley Building is managed by the Zeller Realty Group; and
WHEREAS, in recognition of the extensive re-development and historic preservation of this cherished Chicago asset, the Zeller Realty Group was awarded the 2017 International TOBY Award, commercial real estate's highest recognition for excellence in building management; and
WHEREAS, in 2014, the Zeller Realty Group won the City of Chicago Landmark Award for excellence in exterior renovation of the Wrigley Building and the prestigious Greater Chicago Food Depository Commercial Real Estate Award for Redevelopment of the Year; and
WHEREAS, the Zeller Realty Group is an environmentally conscious, dedicated, and highly committed corporate citizen striving to improve the quality of life for people and communities through its annual employee volunteer efforts on behalf of the Greater Chicago Food Depository; building houses for Habitat for Humanity; participation in the American Heart Association Heart Walk; the Catholic Charities soup kitchen (through the Chicago HELP Initiative), and their generous charitable donations to the Lurie Children's Hospital and After School Matters; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the Mayor and the members of the Chicago City Council assembled this twentieth day of September, 2018, congratulate and thank Paul M. Zeller; the Zeller Realty Group executive team, and all of their employees, brokers and support personnel for their service to Chicago in this 30th Anniversary Year; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this resolution be pres/nted to the Zeller Reahy'
Group. // I /
Edw^tM. Burke Alderman, 14th Ward